Oleh H. A. Azwar, Selasa, 23 Februari 2016 | 11:22 WIB - Redaktur: Filmon Warouw - 1K
Jakarta, InfoPublik - President Joko Widodo welcomed the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmad Muhammad Ahmad Ath-Thayyeb, along with Hukama Assembly at the State Palace on Monday (2/22). President Joko Widodo and Grand Sheikh of Al Azhar held a closed meeting.
In the event, the President was also accompanied by the Working Cabinet ministers, among others the Minister of Religious Affairs Lukman Hakim Saifuddin.
After the meeting, the Deputy Foreign Minister A.M. Fachir told reporters that Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar arrived at Indonesia with some agendas, such as visiting the State Islamic University (UIN) of Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, State Islamic University of Malang, and Gontor Darussalam Modern Islamic Boarding School in Ponorogo, East Java.
Mr. Fachir described that Al Azhar is a very famous Islamic University in Indonesia. Al-Azhar attracts a lot of Indonesian students. This time, there are more than 3,500 Indonesian students studying at Al-Azhar.
"Al-Azhar has delivered many outstanding figures in Indonesia. Welcome and thank you for your willingness to come to Indonesia,” said Fachir.
Representing President Joko Widodo, Fachir expressed gratitude to Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar who has been providing knowledge to Indonesian students. Al-Azhar University is a very moderate university as well as universities in Indonesia which have good tolerance and moderation.
He continued that the President gives his appreciation for the fact that Al-Azhar has built and already inaugurated four student dormitories in Egypt which can also cater for other foreign students.
Meanwhile, Indonesia’s former Foreign Minister Alwi Shihab, who also attended the meeting, expressed his expectation to the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar in order to enlighten the Muslim community in Indonesia and guide Indonesian students in Egypt in re-spreading Islam that is far from extremism and violent.
He also expressed his gratitude to the Grand Sheikh of Al Azhar for the visit in Indonesia and hoped that President Joko Widodo would conduct a visit in Egypt in the near future.
According to Mr. Shihab, the President also thanked Al-Azhar because it has been providing scholarships for Indonesian students and sending theologians annually.
This year alone, there are 30 propagators form Al-Azhar coming to Indonesia to provide education in Indonesia. “The meeting is warm and fruitful,” he concluded. (Translator: Erik Limantara)
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