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US ambassador visits pesantren to learn about Islam
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US Ambassador to Indonesia Joseph R. Donovan (center) talks to Uripto Mahmud Yunus of the Assalaam Sukoharjo Islamic Student Association (right) during the envoy’s visit to the school in Sukoharjo, Central Java, on Thursday. (JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi)
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ewly appointed US Ambassador to Indonesia Joseph R. Donovan chose to visit a pesantren (Islamic boarding school) in Sukoharjo, Central Java, to learn about Islam and Indonesia on Thursday.
The diplomat visited the Assalaam pesantren to “learn about Indonesia, including about Islam in this country."
“They [the students] come from various parts of Indonesia. I wanted to know about their study experiences within the pesantren, the subjects taught and the future [of education],” said Ambassador Donovan, who had submitted a letter of credential to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Jan. 12 to mark the start of his term as ambassador.
Separately, Uripto Mahmud Yunus of the Assalaam Sukoharjo Islamic Student Association (PPMI) stated that the ambassador had yet to talk about cooperation with the school. He, however, was upbeat that the visit would result in cooperation in the form of scholarships for outstanding students.
Previously, Ambassador Donovan met with Surakarta mayor FX Hadi Rudyatmo and experienced the city's culinary arts. He also visited Klaten the day before.
