“I think this is a symbol that needs to be introduced to the world. The two houses of worship are connected by a tunnel, a tolerance tunnel,” said Umar, who is also the Grand Imam of Istiqlal Mosque.
Umar made the remarks after accompanying Germany’s Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Reem Alabali Radovan on a visit to Istiqlal Mosque and Jakarta Cathedral.
Umar said Radovan and her delegation, which included members of the German parliament, were impressed to see two houses of worship belonging to different faiths directly connected by a tunnel conveying a message of brotherhood and tolerance.
“They were very impressed because this was the first time they had seen something like this, twin houses of worship, a mosque and a cathedral, connected by a tolerance tunnel,” Umar said.
According to Umar, the Silaturahim Tunnel is the world’s only tolerance tunnel, making it an important feature and one of Jakarta’s symbols of religious harmony.
The tunnel contains various ornaments symbolizing tolerance and is also equipped with sounds representing the two faiths.
Radovan said the religious tolerance symbolized by the close proximity of Istiqlal Mosque and Jakarta Cathedral could serve as a model for interfaith tolerance around the world, including in Germany.
“I think it is a good model for a lot of places in the world. Also, of course, for us in Germany, we can also learn from that,” Radovan said.
She said practices of tolerance, friendship, and dialogue were becoming increasingly important as the world faced a range of challenges.
“This is very impressive and it shows the way that Indonesia and Indonesian people are going, which is also a way of peace, friendship and tolerance between religions,” she said.
Radovan said her visit to Istiqlal and the cathedral was also part of broader bilateral relations between Indonesia and Germany, covering development and economic cooperation, particularly renewable energy and the energy transition.
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Reporter: Kuntum Khaira Riswan
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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