Indonesia and Iran have similar situation in managing mosque in which run by the community, instead of the government.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The mosque councils of Indonesia and Iran will propose the 30th May as the International Day for Mosque in the OIC summit next year.

The chairman of Indonesia`s Mosque Council, Jusuf Kalla, said to the press after a closed meeting with the Iranian Mosque Council`s Chairman Mohammed Javad Akbari here on Tuesday, that the discussion about the international mosque commemoration day is still on going, ahead of the next summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

"We are still discussing the plan to propose the 30th May as the international mosque day to the OIC and we choosing that day as a commemoration of the attack to the Masjidil Aqsa in Palestine by Zionist Israel," said Kalla.

Moreover, Kalla said Indonesia and Iran have similar situation in managing mosque in which run by the community, instead of the government.

In other Islamic countries like Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Brunei Darussalam, the mosques are managed and funded by the government, while Indonesia and Iran are the exception. Hence, Indonesia and Iran could enhance the cooperation in the mosques management, Kalla explained.

"We can establish cooperation with Iran on how to manage community-based mosques as well as to enhance people to people contact between Indonesia and Iran," he said.

On the other hand, Javad Akbari said during the meeting with Kalla, each side has agreed about the significant meaning of the mosques well management as a part of the Muslim life.

"That is why we want to cooperate with the Indonesia Mosque Council on how to advance the mosques management in our country," he said.

Jusuf Kalla and Mohammed Javad Akbari are also former vice presidents of Indonesia and Iran respectively. They are now active as the chairmen of their countries` mosque councils and observers of humanity issues.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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