REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The 23rd Annual International Conference on Islamic Studies (AICIS) from February 1–4, 2024, at UIN Walisongo, Semarang, will not only be attended by academicians, but also religious leaders from Southeast Asia.
"These leaders will participate in discussing solutions to a range of current problems from a religious perspective," the Religious Affairs Ministry's director of Islamic religious colleges, Ahmad Zainul Hamdi, informed here on Monday.
Hamdi said that the organization of the 2024 AICIS is in line with COP28, Dubai, which roped in religious leaders in climate crisis discussions.
This year's AICIS will be themed "Redefining the Roles of Religion in Addressing Human Crisis: Encountering Peace, Justice, and Human Rights Issues," in response to the global humanitarian crises in several parts of the world, such as the Middle East and Ukraine, he added.
"AICIS aims to redefine the role of religion, especially Islam, in facing contemporary humanitarian challenges on the global scene," he said.
The religious figures who are scheduled to attend the event include the chairperson of Indonesia's Nahdlatul Ulama, Yahya Cholil Staquf; head of the Indonesian Islamic organization Muhammadiyah, Philip Kuntjoro Widjaja; Wisnu Bawa Tenaya from Indonesia; and Vanh Keobundit from Laos.
Yon Seng Yeath (Cambodia), Bounthavy Phonethasin (Laos), Y.B. Datuk Dr. Hasan bin Bahrom (Malaysia), Phra Dr. Anilman Dhammasakiyo (Thailand), Pastor Gomar Gultom (Indonesia), Romo Hery Wibowo (Indonesia), Ws Andi Gunawan (Indonesia), A. Elga J. Sarapung (Indonesia), and Bishop Pablo Virgilio Siongco David (Philippines) will also attend the conference.
"They will meet to share perspectives and insights based on their experiences in responding to humanitarian issues and peace. The result will be discussed in an on-stage discussion session that will result in the Semarang Charter," Hamdi informed.
Several issues will be discussed at the conference, including nationalism, human rights, equality, gender issues, empowerment, and war and peace.
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