In Belgium, JK Affirms Islam Teaches Peace

The 10th and 12th Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia, M Jusuf Kalla, during a conference on world peace, EU Community of Practice on Peace Mediation, in Brussels, Belgium on Thursday (19/10/2023). (ANTARA/HO-Jusuf Kalla)

JAKARTA - Jusuf Kalla's 10th and 12th vice presidents discussed peace from an Islamic perspective during a conference on world peace, the EU Community of Practice on Peace Mediation, in Brussels, Belgium.

Jusuf Kalla (JK) acted as the mainnote speaker in front of a number of mediators and prospective peace mediators from various countries and international organizations.

"Never ask about Islamic teachings about peace again. Every time we meet people, we always start with assalamu asalaikum. Peaceful greetings," Kalla said as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, October 19.

According to him, peace is the basis for carrying out social interactions in life. "Pamai is the foundation of daily activities with other people," explained JK, Jusuf Kalla's nickname.

He said Muslims perform the obligation to pray five times a day and at the end of every day the worship ends with greetings twice facing the right and left so that at least ten times give greetings of peace.

The greeting means greeting others peacefully.

He also explained the reason Islam is perceived as an anti-tolerance religion and tends to use violence because humans give mere subjective judgments and perceptions.

According to JK, the resistance carried out by the Afghans, Iraq, Syria and Libya against the invasion of foreign nations is to defend the dignity of their respective nations.

"We must be objective in seeing the current and past conditions that have existed. Understanding extremism is not an Islamic monopoly. Understanding and practice of extremism also exist in Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism," said Kalla.

Even as invaders from the west destroyed a number of aspects of life in Africa and Asia, Islamic countries they colonized never said that their country was colonized by Christian or Catholic colonialism.

JK explained that a number of these countries condemned colonialism by branding the names of countries such as England, France, and Spain.

This shows that Islamic countries have great respect for other religions. Don't want to be arbitrary, because the fact is that the ones who carry out colonialism are the names of countries and nations," said Kalla.

According to Kalla, Islam, which enters Indonesia, is very tolerant and builds friendship, not hostility.

He explained that there is injustice in building perspectives to assess Islam in today's world that must be stopped.

"All current conflicts, especially those experienced by Islamic countries or people, are not religious conflicts, but problems of economic, social and political injustice," said JK, adding that the problem must be resolved.