BAZNAS, MUI, and UIN Jakarta Host Wasatiyah Islamic Diplomacy Training for Peace in Palestine

FISIP Building, UIN Online News – The National Amil Zakat Agency (BAZNAS) of the Republic of Indonesia, in collaboration with the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, held the 2025 Wasatiyah Islamic Diplomacy Training for Peace in Palestine. The event took place on Wednesday (July 2, 2025) at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) Building, UIN Jakarta.

Besides UIN Jakarta Rector, Prof. Asep Saepudin Jahar M.A. Ph.D., the event was also attended by key figures from each institution, including Secretary-General of MUI Dr. Amirsyah Tambunan M.A., Vice Chairman of BAZNAS RI H. Mokhamad Mahdum (Haji Mo), and Chairman of MUI's Foreign Relations and Cooperation Division Prof. Dr. Sudarnoto Abdul Hakim, M.A.

In his remarks, Vice Chairman of BAZNAS RI, H. Mokhamad Mahdum, expressed appreciation for the role of MUI and various other institutions that have channeled infaq (charitable donations) and humanitarian funds for Palestine through BAZNAS. To date, BAZNAS continues to distribute humanitarian aid through local and international partners in Palestine, including the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

“Alhamdulillah, thanks to the support from MUI and various elements of society, the synergy of humanitarian fund diplomacy can be collectively built. We also involve students, including those in Egypt, in the form of media diplomacy and digital content such as campaign videos and promotions for the needs of the Palestinian people. This is a form of modern diplomacy that needs to be continuously developed,” he stated.

Haji Mo added that strengthening public diplomacy is not only carried out at the state or official institutional level but also through community participation, especially the younger generation.

“The role of young people today is very important. They have the access, network, and technological capability to convey humanitarian messages to the whole world. We must continue to facilitate and involve them in diplomacy based on Islamic and humanitarian values,” he emphasized.

On the same occasion, UIN Jakarta Rector Prof. Asep Saepudin Jahar appreciated the strategic synergy established among BAZNAS, MUI, and UIN Jakarta. The Rector stressed the importance of reformulating diplomatic approaches in the digital era.

“Today's global disputes are not only between weapons but also between ideologies and economic powers. Therefore, higher education institutions need to prepare excellent human resources across various fields, not only religious experts but also medical professionals, physicists, and others. Our future diplomacy must be based on cross-sector and cross-national collaboration,” he asserted.

Meanwhile, Chairman of MUI's Foreign Relations and Cooperation Division, Prof. Sudarnoto Abdul Hakim, emphasized the importance of strengthening Indonesia's diplomacy in advocating for Palestine's independence. According to him, Indonesia continues to push for international conferences to discuss a comprehensive solution for Palestine, while also urging member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and ASEAN to sever diplomatic ties with Israel and freeze its membership in the UN.

“Media diplomacy needs to be strengthened so that the narrative of the Palestinian struggle continues to be echoed at national and international levels. This is a commitment of faith and action that must be maintained and enhanced by all Muslims,” he concluded. (Dinda Tries/ZM)