ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – The President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, inaugurated the Silaturahim Tunnel which connects two places of worship, namely the Istiqlal Mosque and the Cathedral Church, in Jakarta, Thursday, December 12 2024.
This tunnel is a symbol of harmony in Indonesia and is the first in the world.
“This tunnel is a valuable symbol of our nation’s harmony. This tunnel shows that differences have never been an obstacle for the Indonesian people to unite with each other,” said President Prabowo.
The Minister of Religion of the Republic of Indonesia, Nasaruddin Umar, explained that the construction of this tunnel was in order to facilitate access for pilgrims between buildings of places of worship.
“This is a symbol of harmony in Indonesia and the first in the world. This tunnel bridges two places of worship. We hope that with the construction of this tunnel, access for worshipers between worship buildings will become easier, and this tunnel can become a symbol of tolerance between religious communities,” said Nasaruddin.
Inside the Tunnel, there are art installations resulting from a national artist competition.
“The philosophy of this tunnel is a reminder of the importance of tolerance between religious communities, where there are galleries and dioramas that tell the story of tolerant relations between religious communities in Indonesia,” he said.
“We hope that the Istiqlal Mosque and Cathedral Church can become symbols of shared happiness,” he added. (AT Network)
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