The Wahid Institute, which was established on September 7, 2004 at Ballroom Four Seasons Hotel, is a research centre adopted from the name of former president Abdurahman Wahid. The institute focuses on culture and Islamic studies in aiming at actualizing moderate and open-minded Islam inspired from intellectual principles and aspiration of Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur).

In the occasion, Gus Dur was sitting on forefront-aisle roundtables among four retired general, such as former vice president Try Sutrisno, former Security minister Wiranto, former Trade and Industry minister Luhut Panjaitan and the elected President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Gus Dur’s wife Sinta Nuriyah and younger brother Salahuddin Wahid were at the same table.

Chairman of the Nation Awakening Party (PKB) Alwi Shihab, former presidential spokesman Wimar Witoelar, legal activist Luhut Pangaribuan, Muslim activist Yahya C. Staquf, some human rights activists and foreign delegations were also taking part in the event.

Aceh traditional dancing and Chamber Orkestra as well as an Indonesian singer Dewi Yull were coloring the launching and to make it more extravagant.

Gus Dur, accompanied by his daughter Yenny Zannuba Wahid who is also a main architect of the center’s establishment, was raising the stage to inaugurate the launching by punching a knob of alarm bell. He was on the stage along with religious leaders from Buddha, Hindu, Syrian Orthodox Christian, Chinese Khonguchu, Baha’i, Samin and Catholic. President Megawati Soekarnoputri was absent due to her duty outside the city

The ceremony, which was started at 9:30 pm and finished at 11:30 pm, was stirred up by young preacher KH Muhammad Dian Nafi’, scholar Moeslim Abdurrahman, Chairman of Muhammadiyah Syafi’I Maarif and Egyptian expert of Koran Nasr Hamid Abu Zaid.

The following is the speech:

Yenny Zannuba Wahid
Director The Wahid Institute Assalamualikum wr. Wb.

Please allow me to explain the reason why we establish the Wahid Institute.

Current world situation which is haunted by violence and rising threat of terrorism, for whatever reason, has forced us to take cooperative actions in the form inter-religious, nation and ethic dialogue.

Accept it or not, religions play crucial roles in the process which I have just mentioned in my opening speech. And in Indonesia in particular Islam has become one of the most important elements of the process. Islam can contribute to the acceleration of democratic process and empowerment of civil society but it may also become the stumbling block of the process.

In the past, Islam had given important contributions to civilization. But now Islam’s image is overshadowed by negative perceptions. Thirst of knowledge that encouraged Al-Ghazali to take a journey from Mecca to Damascus is no longer a trait of Islamic culture. The Medina Charter which was a landmark of pluralism is altered with exclusivity. Intellectual journey which inspired great philosopher Ibnu Sinna to seek answers to fundamental questions is sidelined by narrow-minded attitude.

Now we are challenged to ponder why Islam which in the past had important contributions to civilization is now sinking and struggling to find a way out of trouble.

In Indonesian context, a country with largest Moslem population, Indonesian Moslems share responsibilities to bring back Islamic past glories.

Trough close cooperation with other element of societies we, in The Wahid Institute, are keen to achieve the ideal objectives and in Gus Dur’s ideas and thinking, particularly in his strong commitment for democracy and pluralism, we find the foundation to achieve the objectives.

The pluralistic and democratic system require transformation not only in political system but also in religious understanding and practices which put emphasis on humanity.

That is all the great challenge that we are facing right now. The Wahid Institute wants to take apart the process of empowerment of civil society, social transformation and reinterpretation of religious thinking and we will do so without neglecting welfare of the people.

There is a principle that we have to strongly adopt and the principle is freedom and independency, both in thinking and actions. There are indications that press freedom will be curtailed and we are very concerned with that.

Finally we like to remind everyone of us that religion must be repositioned to its basic function which is to guide people not to destroy them. We call on everyone to work together achieve our objectives. The Wahid Institute has prepared action programs to achieve the objectives.

To end my remark I would like call everyone here to observe moment of silence for two of Indonesia’s human rights champions, Munir who passed away today and Prof Nurcholish Madjid who is being treated in Singapore. We hope we can continue their struggle to promote democracy in Indonesia.

Thank You