PBNU Calls The R20 Forum A Problem Highlight In The Middle East And The Inauguration Of India Tehadap Islam

PBNU General Chair KH Yahya Cholil Staquf. (Antara)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Executive Board Yahya Cholil Staquf said the problems in the Middle East would be in the spotlight of the 20th Religion forum (R20). Including India's treatment of Muslims.

"We are all aware that there is a problem in the middle East, there is a problem in India. Because we want to get out of that problem, then we want to engage with these problematic parties, this is an opportunity that we are pursuing," Yahya said in an online discussion on FMB9, quoted from Antara, Friday, September 30.

Yahya did not deny that currently the world is faced with a number of crises, one of which is related to religion. The problems that arise depart from interactions between religions which are often not seamless.

"So we will direct later, push the forum regarding the root of the problem. Then what steps need to be addressed and resolved," he said.

According to him, the R20 forum is not just a means of discussion to reflect on various religious problems. More than that, the R20 is designed to create a movement to implement the consensus that will be agreed upon in the forum.

The moral and spiritual values raised include humanity, caring for the world, environmental care, survival, peace, and anti-violence.

These universal values, he said, do need to be emphasized to answer all the problems that are currently happening.

The R20 Forum was held as part of a series of activities leading to the 'One Century of NU' commemoration combined with a series of companion activities for the G20 Summit.

The R20 is planned to be held in Nusa Dua, Bali on November 2-3, about two weeks before the peak series of the G20 Summit. A number of religious leaders from various parts of the world will be present at the event which was first held in Indonesia.