TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, May 20, 2026 - An Indonesian and Uzbek cultural performance opened the series of the International Scientific and Practical Seminar on Uzbekistan–Indonesia Exchange Program: Strengthening Social Harmony and Resilience of Mahalla Uzbekistan and Kampung Indonesia, held on May 20, 2026, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The cultural performances from both nations served as a powerful symbol of deep-rooted friendship, cross-civilizational dialogue, and the shared commitment to social harmony that thrives within Indonesian and Uzbek communities.

This international initiative, co-organized by the Indonesian Embassy in Tashkent and the Kalijaga Institute for Justice of UIN Sunan Kalijaga, was officially opened with remarks from H.E. Prof. Dr. Siti Ruhaini Dzuhayatin, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Indonesia to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan; Prof. Noorhaidi Hasan, Rector of UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta; Muzaffar Kamilov, Rector of the International Islamic Academy of Uzbekistan; and Qahramon Quronboyev, Chairman of the Mahalla Association of Uzbekistan. The seminar was attended by around 200 academics and participants from both Indonesia and Uzbekistan.

The forum centered on exchanging experiences between Uzbekistan's mahalla system and Indonesia's kampung (community neighborhood) model as foundational frameworks for strengthening social harmony, community solidarity, and cultural resilience amid the pressures of globalization. Throughout the seminar discussions, speakers and participants highlighted the shared values between mahalla and kampung particularly in upholding human dignity, tolerance, mutual cooperation (gotong royong), and collective responsibility within community life.

During her remarks, Prof. Dr. Siti Ruhaini Dzuhayatin emphasized that the bond between Indonesia and Uzbekistan has run deep for centuries. She traced the spiritual and intellectual genealogy linking the two nations through two pivotal historical milestones. The first, she noted, is the historic role of Sheikh Ibrahim As-Samarkandi in the 14th-century Nusantara archipelago. As one of the great spiritual mentors to the Wali Songo (the Nine Saints) and other major Islamic figures in Indonesia, he imparted Islamic values that harmonized with local culture values that were open, moderate, and inclusive. The second is the cultural diplomacy of President Soekarno in 1956, who made a special point of visiting the Soviet Union specifically to pay his respects at the tomb of Imam Bukhari in Samarkand. She observed that Imam Bukhari's collection of hadith remains to this day a primary reference for Muslims not only in Indonesia and Southeast Asia, but across the world. Through these threads of history, Prof. Ruhaini underscored that Indonesia–Uzbekistan bilateral relations are not merely built on modern diplomacy, but are firmly rooted in a shared historical legacy, scholarly interconnectedness, and a rich Islamic civilization.

On the occasion, the Rector of UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, Prof. Noorhaidi Hasan, stated that as a large and pluralistic nation with diverse cultures, ethnicities, and religions, Indonesia also views social harmony as a unique challenge. Potential conflicts could easily arise if this diversity is not managed wisely through strengthening tolerance, dialogue, and social solidarity.

Therefore, Prof. Noorhaidi emphasized that higher education institutions hold a strategic role in strengthening community social harmony and resilience through academic approaches, research, and community empowerment. He also stressed that the Islamic community bears an important responsibility in realizing Islam washatiyyah, or moderate Islam, to prevent the growth of hate speech, social conflict, and extremism. These moderate Islamic values, he continued, must be continually reinforced through education, cultural dialogue, and the strengthening of civil society networks. Furthermore, he noted that the concept of mahalla in Uzbekistan and kampung in Indonesia could serve as strategic spaces to build an inclusive, tolerant, and resilient society in facing various global challenges.

In this regard, the Rector of the International Islamic Academy of Uzbekistan, Muzaffar Kamilov, affirmed that the mahalla has long served as the social foundation of Uzbek society. He described the mahalla not merely as a social structure, but as a center of moral education and communal togetherness that fosters solidarity, social care, and harmony among residents. He further stressed that in today's global era, protecting the younger generation from moral decline and nurturing them into knowledgeable, patriotic, and tolerant individuals is a shared responsibility. In this effort, he added, the experiences of both Uzbekistan and Indonesia must enrich one another.

Broadening the discourse on inclusive values, the Chairman of the Muhammadiyah Central Board, Prof. Haedar Nashir, who participated virtually, underscored the importance of developing a religiously cosmopolitan approach to Islam. He emphasized that this paradigm must be capable of transcending cultural, racial, and other primordial identities, while still honoring and cultivating local wisdom in each region. He also stressed the need for a unified voice and collective movement that prioritizes dialogue and peace particularly in spreading enlightening values of goodness and drawing wisdom that can help safeguard our shared life together.

Beyond discussions on social harmony and community empowerment, the seminar also highlighted the importance of expanding Indonesia–Uzbekistan cooperation in areas such as tourism, culture, youth and women's development, the concept of smart mahalla, and the development of sustainable green tourism. This event serves as a vital momentum in strengthening bilateral relations between Indonesia and Uzbekistan, while simultaneously reinforcing academic, social, and cultural cooperation networks between the two nations. The collaborative spirit built through this program is expected to generate various joint initiatives, collaborative research, cultural exchanges, and the strengthening of local communities as the foundation for global peace and progress.

This series of strategic agendas was also marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta and the International Islamic Academy of Uzbekistan. This agreement establishes a formal framework for broader cooperation, encompassing collaborative research, academic mobility, youth and women’s development, and the strengthening of local institutions as a cornerstone for creating global peace and progress.