In an official statement issued on Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Matta conveyed the commitment during his visit to the ICO site.
He was accompanied by the Indonesian Ambassador to Zagreb and the head of the Dompet Dhuafa Waqf Development and Investment Agency.
While the project is being funded by government grants, the deputy minister also encouraged Indonesian zakat organizations to contribute to it.
The development of the Islamic center reflects Indonesia’s concrete commitment to promoting moderate, peaceful, and inclusive Islamic values. It is also expected to strengthen the country’s role as a key reference for Muslim communities in Croatia and the wider Balkan region.
Given its strategic location, the ICO is expected to serve as a hub for around 10 thousand Muslims from Croatia and neighboring countries, including Hungary, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The ICO initiative is a part of Indonesia’s broader efforts to boost relations with the global Islamic community.
In 2002, the Istiqlal Mosque in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, was inaugurated as a symbol of solidarity and a strategic step to affirm Indonesia’s presence in the Balkans. The same spirit has guided the construction of the Istiqlal Osijek Islamic Center in Croatia.
Translator: Kuntum, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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