Alumni Moroccan Holds Seminar on Religious Tolerance

PERSISMA, Jakarta – Moroccan-Indonesian Alumni Association (Himami – Himpunan Alumni Maroko-Indonesia) held a seminar in the framework of the 4th annual meeting of Himami held at Hotel Borobudur, Central Jakarta, Tuesday (05/19/2015). The main theme carried in this seminar is about tolerance and moderation of Moroccans in religious and social life. The seminar was attended by the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to Indonesia, HE Mr. Mohamed Majdi, Morocco Embassy Consular, HE. Mr. Mostafa Nakhloui, and the Moroccan embassy staff in Jakarta, lasted from 15:00 until 18:30 am. In addition, there also as some invitated audiences, namely Chairman of PPWI Lalengke Wilson, Chairman of the Council of PPWI West Sumatra Amsir Rustam, Ambassador of PPWI Ms Eka Aslihatyn Saudiyah Putri, and several other PPWI activists.

Beside the Ambassador of Morocco to Indonesia as Keynote Speaker, this meeting also presented experts who are alumni of the Moroccan education. They are Dr. Ahmad Ridho, DESA (Chairman of the Alumni Association); Dr. Joseph M. Siddiq, DESA; Dr. Eka Putra Wirman; and Dr. Aewani Syaerozi, MA. The alumni are generally school in Morocco on support costs of the Kingdom of Morocco since the bachelor’s degree program, S-1 to S-3.

As is generally known that Morocco and Indonesia are two countries that have historical roots of good bilateral relations since hundreds of years ago. Good relations were based on the number of similarities characteristics possessed by both countries. This was conveyed by the Ambassador of Morocco to Indonesia Mohamed Majdi in the “4th Meeting of Indonesian Alumni from Moroccan Universities” which was attended by approximately 50 people alumni, plus several Moroccan university students active (on vacation), and partner organizations Embassy of Morocco in Indonesia.

“The relationship between Indonesia and Morocco overcome various values of tolerance and moderation,” said Mr. Ambassador Majdi.

Just as Indonesia, he said, Morocco as a country with a Muslim majority population, is always trying to separate the realm of religion with politics. “There is no room for political projects in the area of religion. So it does not become the object of religion for power,” he explained.

Educational cooperation between Morocco and Indonesia are woven since many years ago aiming to preserve and develop the relations of friendship and cooperation between the two nations. “Despite the geographical position of the two countries is like the sky and well, very long distance, but relations between the two nations is like a mattress with a bed, very close,” joked Dr. Ridho, chairman of Himami.

Majdi explained, each year Morocco provide about 50 scholarships for Indonesian students to continue their education to Morocco. “If it cannot be said all, almost all Indonesian students majored in religious studies in Morocco,” he said.

According to him, many Indonesian students taking religious studies to Morocco because of common characteristics and values espoused both nations. “Morocco and Indonesia share in common values of tolerance and moderation,” he continued. Morocco and Indonesia, continued Ambassador Majdi, the country had the same Muslim population. But it did not make Morocco or Indonesia as an Islamic state.

The same thing was also stated by Dr. Ahmad Ridho, DESA, when queried by reporters after the meeting. According Ridho already 10 years living in Morocco (ranging education S-1; S-2 and S-3) at the University of Morocco, the moderation of religion in Morocco is not much different from Indonesia.

“Morocco is a country that is moderate in both the religious and the political. Just as in Indonesia, “said Ridho.

Ridho is said, a matter of moderation in religion, Morocco is a Muslim majority country, can co-exist with a number of minorities, including Jews. “As in Indonesia, the majority and minority groups can live side by side without any discrimination,” he said.

Even the word Ridho, is currently one advisor to King of Morocco economics and business were Jews. “And it’s been going on for a long time,” he said.

Moderation in politics since the start of the reform era, Indonesia has proven capable of maintaining political stability without triggering the ongoing conflict in the community. This was reflected in the implementation of the general elections that have been held several times, also the elections in all regions in Indonesia. Political stability is also common in Morocco. Morocco is not affected even when a wave of reforms in a number of Middle Eastern countries such as Tunisia, Egypt, Syria, and Yemen.

“While continuing the war is still going on as in Syria and Libya, Morocco was able to stabilize. It shows how moderate Moroccan society that can promote national unity rather than mere political interests,” said Ridho.

Therefore, Ridho is also professor of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah, Jakarta is hoped that in life bersosial, Indonesian society is able to maintain religious tolerance. “There’s nothing to question about majority and minority,” he said.

Looking ahead, further Ridho, Alumni Association of the University of Morocco will open a dialogue with the institutions and organizations of Islamic communities in Indonesia, in order to share experiences and understanding of the attitude of moderation and tolerance in view of the Moslem Morocco, a nation that a majority adherents of Islam of Imam Maliki.

Meanwhile, General Chairman of PPWI (Association of Indonesian Citizen Reporter), Wilson Lalengke, S.Pd, MA, M.Sc, which last year made a visit of friendship to Morocco by the support of the Moroccan Embassy in Indonesia said, the topic of discussion this time is very appropriate to the present situation Indonesia, as well as the nations of the world. “I think the topic of this discussion about the attitude of moderation and tolerance in running religious and social life is very precise with the latest situation. Because in Indonesia, there is still a small portion of people who are often caught up in the issue of the freedom to practice their religion, but the constitution of the Republic of Indonesia is clear,” he said after the meeting.

Wilson hoped, Alumni Association of the University of Morocco could become one of the promoters and drivers of the development of religious tolerance in Indonesia. “Alumni Association of the University of Morocco I guess it could be one of the promoters in the development of an attitude of moderation and religious tolerance in Indonesia. One way, opening up space for dialogue with Islamic groups, as well as other religions, which still tends to create a sense of religiously motivated hostility and violence, “he concluded. (APL)