With the support and participation of the Indonesian President:

Dr. Al-Issa approves the G20 presidency to establish the "R20" platform as the 1st official group for G20’s interfaith communication

 

The Indonesian President welcomes the Muslim World League and inaugurates the 1st religious summit of the G20 in Bali, headed by the MWL and the Nahdlatul Ulama Authority.

 

The Indonesian President: "R20" Summit stresses the urgent need for religious leaders to cooperate in activating their contributions to solving global problems.

 

Dr. Al-Issa launches the 1st initiative of the "R20" platform: "The Forum for Building Bridges between East and West for establishing Peace."

 

Dr. Al-Issa: “The Initiative of the Interfaith Communication Platform of the G20 bestows responsibility on religious leaders and holds its founders with special responsibility.

 

The Bridge-Building Forum extends beyond the issues of decades-old "traditional dialogues" that are in limbo.

 

The texts of Islam and its "accountable" historical record reject the clash of civilizations.

 

Sheikh Muftah Al-Akhyaar confirms the world’s urgent need for this summit and to make the influential voice of religion be heard.

 

Sheikh Thaqouf: “The G20’s R20 initiative stems from a sincere and honest will of the followers of religions and expresses the believers’ sincere interest in the future of humanity.

 

Bali - MWL

 

With the support and participation of Indonesian President, Joko Widodo, His Excellency Secretary-General of the Muslim World League and head of the Association of Muslim Scholars, Sheikh Dr. Muhammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, announced the launch of a global initiative within the framework of the upcoming "G20" summit within days. It is the "R20" platform, which was established by the Muslim World League and the Indonesian Nahdlatul Ulama Authority, and adopted by the G20 presidency this year, to become the 1st interfaith communication group in the history of the leaders of the world's most powerful economies.

 

The Indonesian President, Chairman of the Interfaith Platform "R20", inaugurated the activities of the G20 Interfaith Summit; the 1st religious summit to be held by the Interfaith Platform, and organized by the platform's founders including the Muslim World League and the Indonesian Nahdlatul Ulama Authority, on the Indonesian island of Bali, the venue for this year's G20 summit. It is held under the slogan "Making religion a source of global solutions” given its spiritual impact on its communities". This is in the presence of the most prominent active and influential religious leaders on the international arena.

 

At the beginning of his speech, the Indonesian President welcomed His Excellency Secretary-General of the Muslim World League and head of the Association of Muslim Scholars, Sheikh Dr. Muhammad Al-Issa in Indonesia as co-founder of R20. The Indonesian President reviewed, in the context of his speech, the wide diversity characterized by Indonesia, in its geography, history, religions, ethnicities and languages. He said: "Indonesia is a country with many tribes, languages and religions, but we are united under the banner of one state, united in tolerance, unity and the principle of 'unity in difference".'

 

The Indonesian President stressed that the various religious leaders have become a key part of independence, a major part of national unity, and a major part in rendering the government's development programs successful, stressing that the popular cooperation among followers of different religions is the pride of Indonesia. He added: “We are proud of your presence at the "R20" summit, stressing the urgent need for the cooperation of religious leaders in order to stimulate their contributions to solving global problems, especially in reducing competition, stopping war, establishing world peace, and reaching a united and cooperative world that plants seed of blessing for the future generations.

 

For his part, His Excellency the Secretary General of the MWL and head of the Association of Muslim Scholars, Sheikh Dr. Muhammad Al-Issa, delivered a speech greeting the Indonesian President, appreciating his support and adoption of the initiative to establish a platform for interfaith communication. Dr. Al-Issa said that the "R20" platform initiative bestows responsibility on religious leaders, and the Muslim World League and the Nahdlatul Ulama shoulder a special responsibility as the two bodies that preside over the 1st "R20" summit in the history of the G20.

Dr. Al-Issa indicated that the clash and conflict among ancient and modern civilizations are apparently caused by religious teachings learnt by followers of religions, not their true teachings. A set of challenges, facing the necessity of co-existence and harmony in communities of national diversity, are attributed to these teachings. Dr. Al-Issa stressed that Muslims affirm with certainty and with clear religious texts, that Islam totally rejects conflict and clash among civilizations.  Dr. Al-Issa pointed out that the logic of wisdom and credibility goes beyond talking about aspirations and theories to initiatives and achievements. Therefore, through this important platform, we are pleased to launch the initiative: “The Forum for Building Bridges between East and West for peace to extend beyond the issues of decades-old "traditional dialogues" that are in limbo.

 

Dr. Al-Issa pointed out that the chapters of history taught us lessons full of sermons, referring to the absurdity of clash and human conflict. He made clear that whoever imagines victory through abuse and force is delusional. He also warned that the distance of the components of our world "from each other" constitutes a vacuum area, from which negative thoughts and interpretations arise, which ultimately result in convictions and decisions that may be extremely dangerous and complicated. As for wise dialogues, sincere intentions, and honest promises, with a measure of mutual tolerance, these not only prevent conflict, but create trust, friendship, cooperation and sustainable peace as well.

 

Dr. Al-Issa explained the role that believers in religions should play to bring peace and prevent conflict. He said: “Religious leaders have a great influence on their followers because of their spiritual strength based on the source of their religious discourse, as followers of religions believe - regardless of their beliefs - that the source of religion is sacred and infallible. Dr. Al-Issa concluded his speech by noting that the world has suffered throughout its long history from the bitterness of conflict among some followers of religions and civilizations. The world also suffered from the deepening of divisions that ignored many commonalities, and which - if they were adopted - would guarantee the peace of our world and the harmony of its national societies, since the problem is not in the origin of religion, but in the understanding of religion.

 

In turn, His Excellency General Chairman of the Indonesian Scholars Council, Sheikh Muftah Al-Akhyaar, welcomed the Secretary-General of the Muslim World League and President of the G20 Religious Summit along with the attendees of the summit, stressing the urgent need of the world for this summit to make the influential voice of religion be heard. Addressing the attendees, Al-Akhyaar said: "The NU and the Muslim World League have great hopes for you as global religious leaders to present religious values as a solution to global conflicts and make the noble values of the generations a basis for building a global civilization based on respecting rights and human dignity of all.

 

For his part, His Excellency Sheikh Yahya Khalil Thaqouf, head of Indonesian Nahdlatul Ulama Authority, stressed that the G20’s R20 initiative stems from a sincere and honest spiritual will of the people of religion. It expresses the faithful's sincere concern for the future of humanity. He also said: “We hope that this initiative can occupy an honorable and important place among global activities, in order to enable humanity to find solutions to its multifarious problems.” He added: "On behalf of Nahdlatul Ulama, I would like to express our great gratitude to the Muslim World League and in particular His Excellency Secretary-General, Dr. Muhammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, for agreeing to participate with Nahdlatul Ulama in establishing and co-chairing this summit."

The activities of the summit will last for two days with a high-ranking participation of major religious leaders from G20 and other countries, particularly the leaders who are most qualified in their tangible impact around the world. As for the topics of the meeting, they include holding seven plenary sessions, in which religious leaders will discuss the issues facing the world today, and the expected role that religions and their leaders can contribute to their solutions.