His passing away is a true loss for the people of Indonesia
Jakarta (ANTARA) - US Ambassador to Indonesia Joseph R. Donovan Jr. has offered his deepest condolences over the passing of K.H. Salahuddin Wahid, also known as Gus Sholah.

"On behalf of the US government, I offer our deepest condolences to the family of K.H. Salahuddin Wahid, a key figure in Nahdlatul Ulama and leader of Pesantren Tebuireng in Jombang, East Java," Ambassador Joseph R. Donovan Jr. noted in a statement received in Jakarta on Tuesday.

K.H. Wahid drew high respect and admiration for his leadership and contributions to promoting religious tolerance and for his work in protecting human rights and the fundamental freedom of individuals and groups.

"I had the honor of meeting him and have great admiration for his leadership skills and pursuit of progress. His passing away is a true loss for the people of Indonesia," he remarked.

Indonesian Vice President Ma'ruf Amin along with his wife, Wury Estu Handayani, visited the mourning house in Jakarta on Monday morning to pay their final respects to Salahuddin Wahid, who passed away at 77.

Amin and his wife left their residence for the mourning house after performing the subuh, or dawn prayer, and arrived there at around 5:20 a.m. local time. Amin then led a funeral prayer for the deceased Wahid.

Wahid, better known as Gus Solah, is a prominent figure of Nahdlatul Ulama and had dedicated years of his life to advance education at the Tebuireng Islamic Boarding School in Jombang, East Java Province.

Gus Solah, the grandson of national hero Hadratus Syaikh KH Hasyim Asy’ari and younger brother of late Abdurrahman Wahid, Indonesia's former president, is a graduate of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB).

"He is so kind to me, and I feel close to him. He is a figure, who has served significantly in matters pertaining to statesmanship and religiosity," Vice President Amin noted. Related news: Jokowi extends gratitude to Gus Solah during Islamic museum inauguration

Related news: Ma'ruf Amin, Joseph Donovan discuss ways to maintain global peace

EDITED BY INE

Reporter: Azis Kurmala
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2020