Indonesian Vice President Ma’ruf Amin visited Slovakia from November 26 to November 28. The main focus of his program was activities related to the Slovak-Indonesian Interfaith Dialogue. Just like in previous years since 2014, the event was a part of Indonesian efforts aimed at promoting a better understanding of the pluralistic society in Indonesia with different religions and traditions that could coexist and live in harmony and tolerance. The Indonesian delegation consisted of religious leaders of Islam, Catholics, Protestants, Buddhists, Hindus, and Confucians.
In Bratislava, the Indonesian delegation met and discussed with different Slovak religious leaders, including the Archbishop and Metropolitan of Bratislava, Stanislav Zvolensky, and Apostolic Nuncio Nicola Girasoli. At the main forum jointly held by Slovak and Indonesian participants, Vice President Ma’ruf called on religious leaders worldwide to contribute to finding peaceful solutions to various conflicts in the world. “We must strengthen moderation and tolerance. The solution of religious moderation management is an important instrument in preventing conflict so that a peaceful world order is realized,” said the Vice President.
The Indonesian Vice President also met with the Islamic Foundation in Slovakia and some local Islamic figures. According to media reports, in the meeting, he remarked that religious moderation involves adopting viewpoints, attitudes, and religious practices that protect human dignity and provide public benefits without being reductive or neglecting religious teachings.
The Vice President also underlined the importance of implementing religious moderation by adapting to local wisdom and diversity. According to him, “inclusive and moderate religious expression is essential, for example, through inter-religious and intercultural dialogue for tolerance between religious believers, respecting religious freedom, and strengthening social ethics and universal values in preventing potential interfaith conflicts.”
The scale of activities during the Interfaith Dialogue was also attended by wider communities and religious students at the two top Slovak universities in Bratislava and Trnava.
The Indonesian guest and his entourage were properly welcomed by the Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová. They also met the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Economy, Denisa Saková, as well as other Slovak dignitaries and the business community in the halal industry.
