Indonesian minister appointed as International Assembly of Mosque Imams leader

Photo caption: Indonesia's Religious Affairs Minister and Grand Imam of Istiqlal Mosque Nasaruddin Umar at the International Grand Imams Conference (IGIC) 2026 in Jakarta. (ANTARA)

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar has been appointed as the president of the International Assembly of Mosque Imams (IAMI) following the organisation's establishment at the 2026 International Grand Imams Conference (IGIC).

His appointment was warmly welcomed by the grand imams, muftis (Islamic jurists), and international delegates attending the conference held in Jakarta from September 25 to 27.

In a statement on Monday, Nasaruddin, concurrently serving as the grand imam of Istiqlal Mosque, asked for support from global religious leaders to fulfill his mandate and pledged to dedicate his time, energy, and thought to the service and well-being of the Muslim community.

Nasaruddin emphasised mosques must reclaim their strategic role in society, serving not just as places of worship, but as hubs for community empowerment and social gathering, bringing benefits to humanity.

"Mosques are not merely physical spaces, but also centers for empowering the community. Historically, the mosque served as a state secretariat, an administrative center for imams, and a baitul mal (treasury)," he said.

IAMI was established in response to proposals from imams, muftis, and delegates representing 46 countries at the IGIC forum.

The international organisation envisions mosques beyond being places of worship, framing them as centers for education, community development, social solidarity, moral guidance, and peacebuilding.

Imams are currently facing major challenges, including religious intolerance, social fragmentation, environmental issues, youth-related issues, poverty, misinformation, humanitarian crises, and the pressing need for constructive interfaith and international dialogue.

In addressing them, IAMI is operating with the vision of becoming a leading global platform that unites imams to promote harmonious communities, responsible religious leadership, human dignity, and lasting peace.

Headquartered in Jakarta, which serves as its permanent secretariat and administrative hub, IAMI operates regional offices in Kuala Lumpur (Asia), Cairo (Middle East), Nairobi (Africa), London (Europe), New York (North America), Rio de Janeiro (South America), and Canberra (Australia and Pacific).