Ulema council calls for bolstering food security amid Mideast tensions

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) called for the strengthening of Indonesia's food security as a mitigation effort for potential disruptions caused by the Middle East tensions.MUI Deputy Chairman Cholil Nafis noted that if the conflict leads to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and a spike in oil prices, Indonesia's economy will certainly be affected—particularly since the country still imports fuel.

"By strengthening national food security, we hope the impact can be minimized. Most importantly, we must ensure that the economic impact does not escalate into domestic security issues," he said in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Nafis emphasized that in facing the Middle East conflict, Indonesians must speak with one voice: prioritizing humanity, ending the violence, and pushing for peace.

"We support President Prabowo’s efforts to act as a peacemaker, as in Islam, mediating between conflicting parties is a highly virtuous act," he remarked.

However, he continued, it is essential for Indonesia to maintain its free and active foreign policy principles while safeguarding its domestic security and interests.

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He also noted that the Indonesian constitution mandates participation in maintaining world peace. Thus, the President's intention to be a mediator deserves full support.

"We fully support it without being pessimistic, while remaining realistic about our existing capacity and diplomatic channels," he said.

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Regarding the intensifying escalation of the conflict, the MUI emphasized that all people naturally desire a peaceful world.

In this regard, Nafis condemned the attack on Iran but also urged that any retaliatory response should not exceed limits, especially to the point of disrupting neighboring countries or Islam's two holiest cities, Makkah and Madinah.

"The conflict must not be allowed to escalate into a regional conflict or trigger a global conflict," he stressed.