ICIS will hold muslim-christian leaders conference

Jakarta, NU Online
Indonesia will host the Conference of Muslim-Christians Religious Leaders of Asia on February 26 through March 1, 2013 themed "Bringing A Common Word to Common Action for Justice".<>

The conference will be held by the International Conference of Islamic Scholars (ICIS) in collaboration with the Catholic Bishops` Conference of Indonesia (KWI) and the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (PGI) and supported by the Federation of Asian Bhisop Conference (FABC) and the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA).

"The forum is expected to increase the personal relationship of the Muslim and Christian leaders so that each of them can undertake joint actions to resolve issues of social justice and economic conflicts," said ICIS Secretary KH Hasyim Muzadi here Tuesday.

Hasyim said that ICIS has conducted three conferences which were participated in by Muslim scholars from different countries and now it moves forward to an interfaith conference.

The interfaith Muslim-Christian religious leaders conference will also be used to proportionally explain about religious tolerance in Indonesia.

"There are cases of intolerance in Indonesia, but not the idea of intolerance. This will be explained later on the conference," Hasyim said.

(ICIS was established in Jakarta on 24 February 2004 through the initiative of KH Ahmad Hasyim Muzadi, Chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) period 1999 – 2010.

The principle idea of ICIS is to promote moderate Islam and nationhood. ICIS can mediate a dispute of liberal groups and extremist groups. Moderation means balancing faith and tolerance. Since liberal thinking provides too broad space of tolerance that reduces the faith, while the extreme thinking does not give room of tolerance that will lead to violence.

Internationally ICIS position is parallel to the WCRP, OIC, Arab League and others. The scholars are agreed to strengthen cadres of ICIS as a channel for young minds to think globally. As well as to formulate thoughts of ahlul sunnah wal jamaah that formulate moderation can be emphasized at the ICIS forum through two aspects. First, defining the character of enlightened moderation. Second, formulating moderation in the comprehensive movement but remained in the culture of Indonesia and accepted by other groups.

Editor : Sudarto Murtaufiq