Collective Efforts for World Peace

IL News 029/2020

International Webinar hosted by the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia and the Leimena Institute

(Tuesday, October 27th, 2020)

Coexistence on earth is similar to coexistence in a large cruise. If there is a conflict that broke certain part of the cruise that caused leakage, the whole cruise safety was on threat. Hence, world peace initiative must be collective responsibility. The Abrahamic religious family – Christianity, Islam, and Judaism – counted for more than half world population, should take part in the world peace initiative. Hence, the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia and the Leimena Institute organized International Webinar on “Roles of the Abrahamic Religious Family in Promoting Peace in the World”.

It was held on Tuesday, October 27th, 2020, at 18.30-20.30 Jakarta time, attended by more than 1200 participants from hundreds of cities in Indonesia and dozens of countries. The opening remarks were given by Drs. Jakob Tobing, MPA (Chairman of the Leimena Institute), Dr. Alwi Shihab (Senior Fellow of the Leimena Institute), and H.E. General TNI Fachrul Razi (Ret.) as the Minister of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia. The Minister officially opened the webinar. This webinar drew huge interest from overseas, one of them was stated by Mr. Javier Piedra (Acting Assistant Administrator of the Bureau for Asia, USAID) directly from Washington DC, United States of America.

As the first speaker, Shaikh Abdallah Bin Bayyah (Chairman of the United Arab Emirates Fatwa Council and President of the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies) said world peace as peoples’ priority could be achieved through multi-religious collaborative. Further, five other speakers had stated their perspectives too. They are Prof. Dr. KH Said Aqil Siroj (Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama), Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo (Chairman of the Indonesian Bishops’ Conference), Chief Rabbi David Rosen (International Director of the Interreligious Affairs at the American Jewish Committee), Prof. Dr. Abdul Mu’ti (General Secretary of the Muhammadiyah), and Rev. Gomar Gultom (Chairman of the Communion of Churches in Indonesia).

Several news coverage from Indonesia and overseas on the webinar:

Persamaan dan Kerja Sama Antaragama Keluarga Ibrahim Mendorong Perdamaian
https://kompas.id/baca/internasional/2020/10/28/persamaan-dan-kerja-sama-antaragama-keluarga-ibrahim-mendorong-perdamaian/

Kemenag dan Institut Leimena Gelar Diskusi Peran Agama
https://republika.co.id/berita/qixo2h430/kemenag-dan-institut-leimena-gelar-diskusi-peran-agama

Mencari Titik Temu Agama Abrahamik untuk Perdamaian Dunia
https://nasional.sindonews.com/read/212756/15/mencari-titik-temu-agama-abrahamik-untuk-perdamaian-dunia-1603941007?showpage=all

Shared Ancestry: Religious Leaders Call for Solidarity in Abrahamic Faiths
https://jakartaglobe.id/news/shared-ancestry-religious-leaders-call-for-solidarity-in-abrahamic-faiths

Abdullah bin Bayyah highlights role of followers of Abrahamic religions in promoting peace
http://wam.ae/en/details/1395302881405