What green for mosques?

A model for the 800,000 mosques in Indonesia: this is how the Istiqlal mosque is presented by its leaders. Located in the heart of the capital Jakarta, it has become the first eco-responsible Muslim building in the country. Rainwater is collected there and part of its electricity is produced from the solar panels which cover the immense roof of the building.

The ambition is to eventually include 70% of mosques in this process, in this country which has the largest number of Muslims in the world. Should we then be surprised that here too a young generation of activists is rising to protect primary forests, protect rivers and call for a change in consumerist practices? But are they supported?

Gus A’ak, for example, with a small army of volunteers, has been working for seventeen years to restore an area of ​​400 ha that had been illegally deforested for years. Marking the prophet’s annual birthday, the man launched a mobilization campaign to call on other Muslims to act. Surprised, the Indonesian Ulema Council condemned the operation.

But since 2011, this same Council has evolved, issuing seven fatwas (a religious opinion) condemning deforestation, poaching and plastic pollution. Without condemning polluting industries, such as coal, which continue to invest massively in the country.