Vice President Ma'ruf: Istiqlal-Cathedral Gathering Tunnel Builds Community Harmony

JAKARTA - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin said the Gathering Tunnel that connects the Istiqlal Mosque and the Church of Santa Maria Ascension to Heaven, Jakarta Cathedral, provides inspiration to create inter-religious harmony, especially between Islam and Catholicism.

"I feel that this tunnel has a deep meaning, not only as a symbol but also providing inspiration for the establishment of inter-faith harmony," said Vice President Ma'ruf at the Jakarta Cathedral Catholic Church, reported by Antara, Friday, August 27.

The vice president tested the Silaturahmi Tunnel from the Istiqlal Mosque to the Cathedral Catholic Church, on the sidelines of his working visit to review the implementation of health protocols for houses of worship in Jakarta, Friday.

The symbol of inter-religious harmony in the Silaturahmi Tunnel is a representation of Muslims in the Istiqlal Mosque and Catholics in the Cathedral Church.

"Muslims are represented by Istiqlal and the community or Catholics. And what's interesting is that the parking below is shared between Istiqlal and the Cathedral," he added.

The Vice President also hopes that the Gathering Tunnel will inspire all Indonesians that inter-religious harmony must be built and maintained.

"I hope this really inspires us, the entire Indonesian nation, that we must build harmony; and we believe that inter-religious harmony is the main element of national harmony," he said.

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin and a limited entourage conducted a review of the implementation of health protocols in places of worship, namely the Istiqlal Mosque and the Jakarta Cathedral Catholic Church, Friday.

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin also held Friday prayers at the Istiqlal Mosque, which Ma'ruf did for the first time during the implementation of restrictions on community activities (PPKM) and after the renovation of Istiqlal.

The government has implemented PPKM level 3 in DKI Jakarta, with this status, worship activities can be carried out in houses of worship, with a maximum occupancy of 50 percent of the capacity of the people.

In the Decree of the Governor of DKI Jakarta Number 1026 of 2021 concerning PPKM Level 3 COVID-19, houses of worship are allowed to operate, namely mosques, prayer rooms, churches, temples, temples, pagodas and other places that function as places of worship.