US Diplomat, Andrew Kelly, spoke about tolerance in the seminar attended by University of Islam Malang graduate students on Saturday (18/5). The Head of the Political and Economic Department of the US Consulate General in Indonesia asserted that as a country with the largest Muslim population in the world, Indonesia has tremendous potential.
“There are 4 million people in the United States who embrace Islam, of which around 35 percent were born in US” he said.
According to Kelly, the United States has long been familiar with Islam. Although the United States Government has never formally cited the exact number of Muslims or followers of other religions there, the figure of America’s population reflects that the development of the United States is now also in line with the development of the Muslim population there.
He also said that now Muslims in the United States can also freely hold government structural positions. Kelly gave an example of his uncle who was a Deputy Mayor, and his Mayor was a Muslim. Since he has beenin charge in Indonesia, Kelly asserts that almost all aspects in Indonesia must have something to do with Ulema Council or Nahdatul Ulama (NU). He also often had good relations with a number of prominent NU figures.
“I often get in touch with NU Islamic leaders and there is no aspect in Indonesia that is not related to NU,” Kelly explained, in an agenda of opening a Guest Lecturer session.
Meanwhile, the Vice Rector I Unisma Prof. Drs. H. Junaidi, M.Pd, Ph.D. said, Kelly spoke to students of Doctoral program of Multicultural Islamic Education and Master program of Islamic Education to convey insights related to religious tolerance in America. “This time we bring an Islamic study expert from the United States who is also a diplomat who knows deeply about Islamic boarding school,” he said.
