Interfaith figures play a very important role in creating peaceful elections. Because they have the ability to unite society through shared values recognized by various religious groups. By focusing on similarities rather than differences, religious figures can strengthen unity amidst diversity.
Religious figures often have good mediation skills. They can act as mediators when conflict or tension occurs during the election process, and help find fair and peaceful solutions.
Religious figures can advocate messages of tolerance, mutual respect and harmony between religious communities. They can give lectures and statements emphasizing the importance of peaceful coexistence regardless of religious differences.
Apart from that, religious leaders can also organize dialogue or interfaith meetings to help reduce tensions and increase understanding between religious communities. So that religious figures can lead discussions to resolve misperceptions and encourage mutual understanding.
Through political education activities, religious leaders can help educate the public about the electoral process, the importance of active participation in democracy, and the positive impact of peaceful elections. If tension or conflict occurs, religious figures can act as mediators to defuse tensions and find peaceful solutions. And they can work together with the parties involved to reach a fair agreement.
In the election supervision process, religious figures can play a role in monitoring the election process and overseeing its implementation in a fair and transparent manner. They can cooperate with election monitoring institutions to ensure integrity and fairness in the process.
Through religious figures, they can also invite religious communities to reject all forms of violence during the election process. A campaign that emphasizes the importance of expressing opinions peacefully and using official channels to convey dissatisfaction. So that the election implementation process can run safely and conducively.
Chairman of the Da’wah Commission of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), Ahmad Zubaidi, said that his party asked ulama and da’i to take a role in realizing peaceful elections. The ulama and preachers are components that are able to encourage peaceful elections. So this step is a step to anticipate divisions in society caused by differences in choices in the elections.
Apart from encouraging the contribution of ulama and preachers, the MUI also reminds us about the da’wah strategy that can be used, namely wasathiyah da’wah, namely orienting towards a middle way in dealing with a problem. This step will later be able to become a glue for community relations. Apart from that, MUI also reminded the need for thorough preparation in the realm of da’wah management, because from there the preachers and ulama will be able to synergize optimally and in a focused manner.
The Chairman of the Indonesian Religious Forum Association, Subur Wibisono, also said the same thing, that religious figures throughout Indonesia are committed to making the 2024 elections a success, so that they run safely, smoothly and peacefully. Apart from that, in anticipating various issues or fake news related to SARA, FKUB and religious figures throughout Indonesia are increasing their friendship and interfaith dialogue activities. As well as inviting all religious figures to always guide people so that they are not easily provoked by fake news on social media, because it can divide religious harmony.
The implementation of elections at every level must be successful, because elections produce leaders at various levels who have a big responsibility to safeguard and fight for the benefit of the people. So as religious people we must realize that participation in General Elections is a right and obligation as a good citizen. Therefore, the elections agreed upon in the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) are a legitimate democratic way to elect leaders and representatives of the people.
Apart from that, as religious people we must play a role in promoting peaceful elections and avoiding hoaxes that trigger instability and disharmony among the nation’s children. As well as not abstaining from voting in elections, and must be proactive in participating in channeling their political rights to elect executive and legislative leaders who are believed to be able to deliver a more peaceful and prosperous people and nation.
Meanwhile, National Christian Figure, Rev. Albertus Patty said that his party encouraged Christians to form and be involved in an independent team that would help supervise the election implementation process. So that elections really become a means to build substantial democracy. He also invited the public to use their right to vote responsibly, strengthen election supervision, reject SARA campaign practices, hate speech, hoaxes and money politics, as well as demand the neutrality and professionalism of state administrators and invite cooperation from all elements of society.
Peaceful elections are one of the important pillars of the democratic system in Indonesia. Within the framework of the Republic of Indonesia, elections are a very sacred and vital process in determining the fate of the nation because they will be closely related to the results of the elections themselves, namely producing leaders in the executive realm and people’s representatives in the legislative realism.
