Jakarta (Indonesia Window) - Ethiopian ulemas (Muslim scholars) hoped  Indonesia to play a greater role in the development of Islam in Ethiopia as they  provided a plot of land in the capital city of Addis Ababa for the construction of an Indonesian mosque, as well as schools and Islamic centers.

The ulemas expressed the hope at a meeting with the Indonesian Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Agency (BKSAP) that paid a working visit to Addis Ababa on September 16-20, 2019, according to a statement received in Jakarta on Wednesday.

In addition to a dialogue with the Ethiopian Parliament as BKSAP's main partner, the Indonesian delegation also had a dialogue with Ethiopian civil society organizations.

"Our mission as a representation of the people also strengthens relations between the communities of the two countries. We are meeting the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council (EIASC) and the cleric figures in Addis Ababa," said Deputy Chairman of the BKSAP Surahman Hidayat.

When meeting with the Supreme Council on Ethiopian Islamic Affairs, BKSAP  discussed the role of Islam in development, especially in the field of education.

"Ethiopian scholars have even offered Indonesia to build Islamic schools and centers in Ethiopia. Specifically we have been offered a plot of land to build an Indonesian mosque in Addis Ababa as a symbol of friendship between the two countries," said Surahman.

According to him, the Ethiopian ulemas were also very impressed by the work of the previous Indonesian ulemas.

"They were very impressed with the scientific work of Shaykh Nawawi Albantani from Banten and Shaykh Yasin Alpadangi from Padang. They also want to learn how religious education is an important part of state education," said Surahman who is an Al-Azhar Egyptian alumni.

Reporting by Indonesia Window