JAKARTA: Indonesian Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar (pic) has been appointed the inaugural president of the International Assembly of Mosque Imams (IAMI), a newly established global organisation of mosque imams and religious leaders.
The Religious Affairs Ministry in a statement said Nasaruddin, who also serves as Grand Imam of Jakarta's Istiqlal Mosque, would serve a three-year term with the possibility of an extension.
Expressing gratitude for the trust placed in him, Nasaruddin sought the support of fellow grand imams in carrying out his new responsibility, while stressing the need for mosques to play a greater role in empowering communities.
"We have to change the way we see mosques. Until now, the community has empowered the mosque, but we have to reverse this, it is the mosque that should empower the community,” he was quoted to have said in the statement on Monday.
The ministry said IAMI was established following proposals from imams, muftis and delegates from 46 countries who attended the International Grand Imams Conference (IGIC) 2026 in Jakarta from Sept 25 to 27.
The organisation would be headquartered in Jakarta as its permanent secretariat and administrative centre, with Kuala Lumpur serving as its regional office for Asia and six other regional offices established across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, North America, South America, and Australia and the Pacific.
The ministry said IAMI would serve as a permanent platform for imams and religious leaders to exchange knowledge and strengthen cooperation, with programmes focusing on areas such as religious diplomacy, global peace, humanitarian action, and sustainable communities.
It said the three-day conference also adopted the ‘Jakarta Understanding’ which calls for imams to play a greater role in promoting peace, social justice, and interfaith dialogue, while reaffirming support for the Palestinian people's right to self-determination. - Bernama
