REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Great Administrator of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) again strives for global peace by holding the R20 International Summit of Religious Authorities (R20 ISORA) in Jakarta, Monday (27/11/2023). This international meeting of religious leaders was officially opened by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).
In his speech, Jokowi explained that in this modern world the wars and massacres that are taking Palestinian women and children are beyond reason. “The violence that is taking place in Palestine cannot be tolerated in the slightest. Therefore, humanitarian aid must be distributed immediately, the ceasefire must continue, and peace negotiations must be implemented immediately,” Jokowi said during remarks at the opening of R20 ISORA at Park Hyatt Jakarta on Monday (27/11/2023).
He also revealed that the Indonesian nation held firm to the principle that the colonization of the world should be abolished because it was incompatible with humanity and justice as stated in the preamble of the 1945 Constitution. This forum of religious figures and world spiritual leaders raised the theme “The Role of Religion in Tackling Violence in the Middle East and Threats to the Rules-Based International Order”.
One of the focuses of the discussion of the forum is related to the humanitarian crisis in Palestine. PBNU General Chairman, KH Yahya Cholil Staquf or Gus Yahya hopes that the Palestinian-Israeli war that has been going on since October 7, 2023 can be resolved through ISORA's R20 forum.
“Since the R20 in Bali last year, religious leaders involved have reached an agreement to continue to fight to present religion as a source of solutions to a wide range of global problems,” Gus Yahya said during the forum, religious leaders were challenged to work together to find solutions to global problems at hand.
“And it just so happens that ISORA is abbreviated if this Javanese is challenging, 'iso ora?' meaning 'Could it not?' So we challenge religious leaders to be able to present religion as a source of solutions to the humanitarian problems we now face,” he said.
The R20 ISORA is expected to present religion as a pillar of solving humanitarian problems. According to Gus Yahya, this meeting will reach a concrete agreement on the joint actions that religious communities around the world need to take regarding today's global challenges.
Meanwhile, ISORA R20 Executive Chairman Ahmad Ginanjar Sha'ban said that about 150 participants from home and abroad attended the forum. Of the total 150, 30 of them are from abroad. They represent the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, Asia, and ASEAN.
“The participants, speakers from abroad, there are 30 people confirmed to be present from the Middle East, Europe, America, including from Asia and from ASEAN,” Ginanjar said. In addition, religious figures also came from Indonesia, including ormas figures, activists, thinkers, and writers were also present.
ISORA's R20 aims to be a platform that expands the voice of peace and tolerance at the international level. The forum is expected to be a forum for religious figures, community leaders, and academics to share ideas and experiences on creating a more harmonious world.
R20 ISORA seeks to build bridges between faiths and promote better understanding among different communities. ISORA's R20 became one of the important milestones in PBNU's efforts to strengthen the role of religion in fostering global peace.
Religious leaders who are part of the R20 network agreed to put together an agenda to push for a real solution so that the conflict in Gaza can be resolved as soon as possible.
In the forum, religious leaders will present their responses regarding solutions that can be provided through religious lines to humanitarian problems occurring in various countries, especially in Palestine.
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