Minister and Cardinal Introduce Tolerance Tunnel to German Minister

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta — Minister of Religious Affairs, Nasaruddin Umar, described the Tolerance Tunnel connecting Istiqlal Mosque and Jakarta Cathedral as a symbol of interfaith harmony in Indonesia. He said the Tolerance Tunnel is an important landmark reflecting Indonesia’s spirit of tolerance and diversity.

The Minister said the tunnel features various ornaments representing religious diversity. Visitors can also hear the church bells and the call to prayer from the mosque while in the tunnel.

“This is a symbol of tolerance in Indonesia,” Nasaruddin said while receiving German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Reem Alabali Radovan at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.

Meanwhile, Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo, explained that the location of Istiqlal Mosque next to Jakarta Cathedral has carried symbolic meaning from the beginning. He said President Soekarno insisted that the national mosque be built at its current location, rather than near Hotel Indonesia as proposed by then-Vice President Mohammad Hatta.

“I think it is important to recall the history of why the Istiqlal Mosque was built here. There was a discussion between the president and the vice president at the time when the mosque was planned,” he said.

Cardinal Ignatius said there were two main reasons for choosing the location. First, to erase the memory of colonialism, as there had previously been two sites with Dutch names. Second, the national mosque was intended to be located near the cathedral.

He said the proximity of the two places of worship has become a symbol of tolerance and nationalism, further strengthened by the construction of the Tolerance Tunnel. German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Reem Alabali Radovan also praised the Tolerance Tunnel as a real example of peace, friendship, and interfaith tolerance. She said such values are especially important amid the challenges facing the world today.

“We see examples of tolerance, friendship, and dialogue. I think it is a good model for many places in the world,” she said. She added that Indonesia can serve as an example for other countries in promoting tolerance, friendship, and interfaith dialogue. She also said Germany could learn from Indonesia’s experience in maintaining harmony among different religious communities.