Ministry Of Religion Receives 688 Articles For Latin American Asia-Africa Conference

Head of Balitbang Diklat Kemenag Suyitno (Between)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Religion's Education and Training Agency (Kemenag) has received 688 article abstractions for the holding of the Asia Africa and Latin America Religious Moderation Conference (KMBAAAL), which is planned to be held in Bandung City on 11-13 December 2023.

"As of November 17, 2023, the Ministry of Religion's Education and Training Center has received 688 article abstractions (call for paper)," said Head of Balitbang Diklat Kemenag Suyitno as quoted by Antara, Sunday.

Suyitno said the call for paper was held to accommodate the public, scholars, practitioners, and academics, conveying their thoughts on humanity and religion. Abstraction articles mostly come from Indonesia, China, Turkey, Morocco, Lebanon, and a number of other countries.

According to him, the Ministry of Religion is currently continuing to intensely finalize the preparations for KMBAAL, both technically and substantively, including coordination with various government and private stakeholders.

In addition to meeting religious leaders, academies, and other institutions from three continents, the committee team also held various activities, including the Tolerance Film Festival, Religious Moderation Music Festival, and Religious Moderation Innovation Expos.

"The various events received warm welcome from all elements of society," said Suyitno.

Suyitno explained that the involvement of Latin America in the Religious Moderation Conference was the right step in the midst of the Palestinian conflict and other parts of the world. He hopes that the meeting can provide a solution to the issue.

"Through the theme that we carry, namely Religion and Humanity, we want to explore sources of religious value as instruments to provide solutions to humanitarian issues," he said.

Suyitno said that the holding of this conference was inspired by the implementation of the Asia-Africa Conference (KAA) initiated by the first President of the Republic of Indonesia Soekarno. Through the spirit of KAA, countries that were in colonialism were then able to be independent and sovereign.

This experience made the Ministry of Religion strive to duplicate enthusiasm by bringing a message of world peace and a struggle for humanity.

"So that religion is present to provide humanitarian solutions, that is why the Ministry of Religion must intervene so that religion is present as a solution to humanitarian issues," said Suyitno.