Jakarta – President of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, inaugurated the Silaturahmi Tunnel connecting the Istiqlal Mosque and Jakarta Cathedral in Central Jakarta on Thursday (12/12).
He described the tunnel, which links two houses of worship, as a symbol of interfaith harmony in Indonesia.
“I am very pleased to attend this event. The inauguration of the Silaturahmi Tunnel between Istiqlal Mosque and the Cathedral is a symbol of religious harmony that gives our nation a very unique characteristic,” said Prabowo.
Prabowo reminded attendees that Indonesia is a pluralistic country, recognizing multiple religions and encompassing a wide variety of ethnicities and cultures. He emphasized that such diversity should not become a barrier to unity.
“For us, differences must not be a dividing barrier. Differences provide us with the energy of strength; they must not become a source of division,” Prabowo asserted.
Minister of Religious Affairs, Nasaruddin Umar, echoed Prabowo’s sentiments, stating that the construction of the Silaturahmi Tunnel serves as both a symbol and a reminder of the importance of tolerance.
“The philosophy behind the construction of the Silaturahmi Tunnel is to remind us of the importance of religious tolerance,” said Nasaruddin.
Nasaruddin detailed the specifications of the tunnel, which took 280 days to build. It spans 34 meters in length, 41 meters in width, 3 meters in height, and has a depth of 6 meters. Inside the tunnel, a gallery and diorama illustrate stories of interfaith tolerance in Indonesia.
“The concept of this construction is reflected in the depth of the tunnel, symbolizing the depth of heart among us, the followers of different religions. That is why we chose not to build a bridge over the road,” explained Nasaruddin.
The tunnel also offers practical benefits by facilitating access to a parking area shared by both congregations, with a capacity for up to 1,000 vehicles.
“We have also built a parking area with a capacity of 800 to 1,000 vehicles that can be used jointly by worshippers from Istiqlal Mosque and the Cathedral,” Nasaruddin added. (RR)
