Muhammadiyah Assets to Internationalization
MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA—The Secretary General of Muhammadiyah Abdul Mu’ti affirmed that Muhammadiyah is a national and international organization. He mentioned four key assets of Muhammadiyah’s internationalization.
First, Muhammadiyah has huge networks. Muhammadiyah and Aisyiyah special branches in many countries play proactive roles in expanding global networks. Indeed, the Muhammadiyah special branches of the United States, Malaysia, and West Germany have legally been acknowledged.
Second, human resources are Muhammadiyah’s great asset. Many prominent figures of Muhammadiyah have long been involved globally, namely Din Syamsuddin, who serves as the President of the Asian Committee on Religions for Peace (ACRP); Rizal Sukma, a senior researcher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and recognized as one of the 100 Global Thinkers according to Foreign Policy Magazine; Hilman Latief, who currently serves as the Director General of Umrah and Hajj and actively participates in international forums.
Third, Muhammadiyah owns a political asset. Muhammadiyah has been officially registered as a permanent United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) member since 2011. The ECOSOC is an international organization whose members include nearly all countries, including Muhammadiyah. This UN council is established to facilitate international legal issues, international security, economic institutions, and social protection of nations across the globe.
Fourth, Muhammadiyah possesses a remarkable reputation within international institutions. In 2013, Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Center (MDMC) responded to Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. In 2015, Muhammadiyah assisted in the aftermath of the earthquake in Nepal. In 2022, Muhammadiyah deployed several doctors to assist flood victims in Pakistan. In 2023, Muhammadiyah contributed to disaster recovery in Turkey. Muhammadiyah has been actively engaged in numerous global humanitarian initiatives.
Then, Mu’ti stated Muhammadiyah’s internationalization policy. It is necessary to continue to promote Muhammadiyah globally. It can be undertaken through publication, international forums, and active responses to global issues such as climate change and Islamophobia.
“Our mission is to present Islam as a mercy for the whole world (rahmatan lil alamin) and to enlighten the world to be an exemplary society,” said Abdul Mu’ti at the Dialog on the Organization’s Political Ideology conducted at Universitas ‘Aisyiyah on Saturday (13/5).
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