Exhibition on Wahid-Ikeda Friendship Held at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta

On October 1, an exhibition titled “A Dialogue of Civilizations,” introducing the friendship and exchanges between former Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid and President Daisaku Ikeda opened at the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia. Co-organized by the Wahid Foundation, the Gusdurian Network Indonesia and Soka Gakkai Indonesia, the exhibition is based on themes in their book The Wisdom of Tolerance: A Philosophy of Generosity and Peace. The opening was attended by former First Lady of Indonesia Sinta Nuriyah Wahid, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs Pratikno, former University of Indonesia rector Gumilar Rusliwa Somantri, and Soka Gakkai Vice President Hirotsugu Terasaki.

On October 3, at the same venue, an interfaith peace forum on inter-civilizational dialogue as a path to world peace as advocated by President Ikeda was held. Participants included Mr. Terasaki, Vincentius Adi Prasojo, Archdiocese of Jakarta secretary, and Yenny Zannuba Wahid, director of the Wahid Foundation. Participants affirmed that true dialogue begins with respecting and listening to others. 

The forum was the first of nine to be held during the showing of the exhibition, which will be shown held at various venues, finishing at the Soka Gakkai Indonesia headquarters in Jakarta on November 7. The forums will explore the themes of tolerance and coexistence from diverse religious perspectives including Islam, Buddhism and Christianity.