President Joko Widodo’s (Jokowi) decision to develop Indonesia Islamic International University (UIII) as a moderate Islam research center would augment the nation’s position as the epicenter of Islamic civilization, the Presidential Staff Office (KSP) said.

Besides being the largest Muslim-majority country, Indonesia has also remained free from the historical burden of religious conflict seen in other parts of the world, KSP’s main expert, Rumadi Ahmad, said in a press statement issued here on Tuesday.

“This strategic position has enabled Indonesia to communicate with representatives of all major religions,” he noted.

Indonesia also has a strong social, intellectual, and political basis to serve as an example and reference for a tolerant and moderate Islam, the KSP expert highlighted.

Lauding the development of UIII as a national strategic project, he said it demonstrates the firm commitment of President Widodo and Vice President Ma’ruf Amin to elevating Indonesia’s status as the epicenter of global civilization.

“UIII must contribute to make Indonesia the leader in the global civilization. We can say that this national strategic project is Jokowi-Amin’s testament to Islamic civilization development,” Ahmad remarked.

Earlier, Vice President Amin had expressed the hope that UIII management and academic activities will meet international standards.

He also asked UIII leadership to strive to make the university the center of Islamic civilization to demonstrate Indonesia’s success in maintaining a moderate stance on Islam to the global community.

“UIII is intended to become the center of global reference on the moderate (wasathiyah) stance of Islam,” Amin said on March 2, 2022.

The Indonesia Islamic International University has been designated as a national strategic project by Presidential Regulation No. 57 of 2016. The regulation was signed by President Widodo on June 29, 2016.

Source: Antara News