'Alhamdulillah, we are Islam Nusantara'

Jakarta, NU Online
At  a joint mass prayer  to welcome the holy month of Ramadhan 1436 H and the opening of the  national meeting of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) at the Istiqlal Grand Mosque on Sunday, President Joko Widodo expressed his pride of the character of Islamic values growing in the country.<>

Jokowi made the remarks following the political upheavals in the Muslim countries, especially in the Middle East.

"In Syria, in Iraq (there have been upheavals). Thank God we are Islam Nusantara, a religion littered fully with humanistic values and tolerance," he said.

The former mayor of Solo admitted that he had always said in international forums about the Indonesia's Muslim population for becoming the largest in the world if compared to other countries.

"Why do I say that? Because it is our strength," he said and was greeted by loud applause.

Regarding the establishment of the National Santri Day, Jokowi said he would follow the advice of NU having set the national santri day on October 22. 

"If it is through consultation and careful process, I ask the Minister of Religious Affairs to immediately process it," he said, adding that he would sign immediately the the establishment of the national santri day.

Jokowi on the occasion also officially opened the National Meeting of NU 2015 and expected NU to continue the footsteps of its predecessors related to its commitment to Pancasila and the national development. (masdar)