Qardhawi Asks Indonesia to Influence Iran
Tuesday, 09 January, 2007 | 18:09 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Grand Moslem religious scholar Prof. DR. Yusuf Qardhawi asked that Indonesia play a role in influencing Iran in an attempt to solve the quarrel between the Shiite and Sunni in Iraq.

“Indonesia may play a role that can influence Iran,” said the moderate 81-year-old religious scholar living in Doha, Qatar, after meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the Presidential office Tuesday (01/09).

The President invited Qardhawi twice—the first time was in Qatar—to ask for advice. Qardhawi welcomed this with joy.

“It is terrible if a government does not want to hear advice from a religious scholar. If a religious scholar is intimate with a pious government and vice versa, virtue shall happen.”

Generally, said Qardhawi, they did talk about Palestine and Iraq, focusing on Iraqi matters. “Iraq is experiencing dangerous problems. One must help to handle internal matters there.”

In addition, said Qardhawi, they must also learn the condition of Moslem devotees; what should be done about them; and what progress Indonesia has achieved.

Presidential spokesperson Dino Patti Djalal said that Indonesia did try to actively deal with matters concerning world peace, especially those of Iran and Iraq.

Badriah