"Today, I am very delighted to attend this event, the inauguration of the friendship tunnel of Istiqlal Mosque and the cathedral. This (tunnel) constitutes a symbol of concord among interfaith communities," he said.
Prabowo added that the Indonesian nation should be proud of its unique and remarkable success in fostering harmony and peace amidst high cultural and religious diversity.
"We stand united as a nation that lives in concord despite differences in religions, tribes, groups, ethnicity, races, local languages, and customs," he observed.
The President attributed the long-lasting harmony in Indonesia to the people's shared dream of a better future for all.
He then drew attention to the message of harmony conveyed by the presence of Istiqlal, which stands opposite Jakarta Cathedral, as Southeast Asia's largest mosque, adding that the mosque was designed by a Christian architect.
Earlier, on the same occasion, Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar emphasized that the tunnel is a manifestation of the mutual respect fostered among interfaith communities.
Umar, who is also the grand imam of Istiqlal Mosque, said that the tunnel was constructed at the instruction of then-president Joko Widodo in 2020 with the aim of easing congregants' mobility and reducing traffic in the area.
The Tunnel of Friendship, which stretches 28.3 meters and measures three meters in height and 4.1 meters in width, was designed as an infrastructure that helps visitors at the mosque and the cathedral to connect with each other, promoting an interfaith bond.
Though its construction concluded on September 20, 2021, the tunnel was not opened to the public until Thursday due to the installation of wall ornaments designed to convey the deeper meaning behind the tunnel.
The Tunnel of Friendship is accessible via the yards of Istiqlal Mosque and Jakarta Cathedral.
Related news: Indonesia asks Saudi Arabia to build hadith museum at Istiqlal Mosque
Related news: Ministry plans to organize third edition of the Festival of Istiqlal
Translator: Rangga P, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2024
