Indonesia seeks to promote mosque imams as peace ambassadors

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2 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia seeks to emphasize the role of mosque imams (worship leader) as diplomats who spread messages of peace as the country hosts the 2026 International Grand Imam Conference (IGIC) later this month.

“The imams can play their role as actors in global diplomacy and spread the messages of peace from Indonesia to the international community, from the pulpit to the prayer niche,” Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar stated in his remarks on Tuesday.

The remarks were conveyed after Umar earlier received Deputy Foreign Minister Anis Matta in Jakarta to discuss the 2026 IGIC and the roles of mosque imams in advocating peace.

According to Minister Umar, mosque imams must serve as ambassadors of peace, as their duty to society should extend beyond the religious context but also to social aspects.

They are mandated to be leaders in morality, public education, social cohesion, and harmony, as well as to live with the values of Islam in the face of the people and the world.

“Strengthening the capacity of imams is an urgent task. Imams are expected not only to have a strong command of religious knowledge but also to possess a strong national outlook, effective communication skills, social awareness, and a global perspective,” Umar stated.

From mosques, being the public places most accessible to residents, Islamic values can be translated into real energy to strengthen brotherhood, tolerance, social awareness, and nationalism.

Meanwhile, DFM Anis Matta declared their support for the 2026 IGIC and encouraged the organizer to invite imams from Saudi Arabia and Palestine and Muslim communities in Europe.

The deputy minister said that the Palestine issue has also been designated as a priority discussion agenda in the event.

Matta also expressed hope that international Muslim partners from Belgium, Australia, Croatia, and Uzbekistan can send their representatives to participate in the conference, thereby ensuring more diverse participants in the event.

The 2026 IGIC in Indonesia will be organized in two phases, with the first phase in Jakarta taking place on September 25-26 and the second phase in Palembang, South Sumatra, on September 27-28. The organizing committee had organized a pre-event agenda in Makassar, Samarinda, Surabaya, and Bandung.