President Jokowi Featured in Saudi Arabian Lifestyle Magazine

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo or Jokowi is on the cover of the monthly lifestyle magazine published in Saudi Arabia, Arrajol.

The Arabic-language magazine featured an exclusive interview with the Indonesian president that was also released on its online version on arrajol.com.

Indonesian Embassy to Saudi Arabia published a video of publication of Arrajol Magazine. “Yes, this is the original edition from the magazine that I translated,” said the Ambassador Maftuh Abegebriel when asked for confirmation on Monday, May 20.

According to Maftuh, the interview was described on ten pages of the magazine focusing on several topics, such as terrorism and diversity among others.

“We have never dreamed of being a governor, let alone a president,” said the President to Arrajol.

Read: When Jokowi Reads Tempo Newspaper Editorial

The former Jakarta Governor also asserted that Indonesia has never feared terrorism. “If a country and nation are afraid of terrorism, then it will be such a great loss,” he underlined.

Indonesia, he added, recognizes six official religions, 710 tribes, and over 1,100 regional languages but the people live in peace, harmony, and care for each other.

Other topics on the interview with the magazine that has been published since 1992 was Indonesia’s support for the freedom of Palestine in various international meetings.

The President further said that Saudi Arabia is Indonesia’s strategic partners in spreading Islamic teachings that Rahmatan Lil Alamin or blessing to all universe.

“Indonesia is proud of its two moderate Islamic organizations, namely Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah, that work along with the government in tackling extremism and terrorism,” Jokowi said.

EKA YUDHA SAPUTRA