"We are ready to cooperate with Indonesia regarding the university," a senior adviser to the supreme leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Mohsen Araki, said after a meeting with Vice President Jusuf Kalla here on Thursday.
Araki stated that the lecturers and teachers would provide knowledge and understanding of Islam.
"Iran is ready to send its students to study at the university," he remarked.
Deputy Secretary for Politics to the Vice President, Dewi Fortuna Anwar, said Vice President Jusuf Kalla has conveyed Indonesias plan to establish the International Islamic University.
"The vice president highlighted the fact that many Indonesian students study in the Middle East countries, such as Egypt, Yemen and others. The vice president worries about the condition of Indonesian students because the Middle Eastern countries have been witnessing many conflicts," Fortuna added.
Therefore, Indonesia should become a new center of Islamic thought, which can teach about Islam as a peaceful religion.
In addition, the understanding between different mazhab (schools of jurisprudence) should be taught by experts.
The UK government had earlier supported President Joko Widodos decision to establish an international Islamic university in Indonesia to serve as a forum to share experiences in curbing terrorism.
"Several new steps have been outlined since our prime minister visited Indonesia, including cooperation in potential areas, such as building an international Islamic university in Indonesia," British Ambassador to Indonesia Moazzam Malik stated here on Tuesday.
Malik explained that the university will become a place to share experiences and will have people speaking international languages in Asian and European countries.
Malik noted that people can take a cue from the role played by the two great Indonesian Islamic organizations: Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah.
He remarked that the partnership between Indonesian and British Islamic institutions, especially those engaged in teaching the youth both scientific and religious principles, had shown good progress.
According to the ambassador, the British government is also ready to cooperate with Indonesia to control the spread of extremism through the virtual world.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
