Indonesia’s deputy minister for Religious Affairs has said Islamic Revolution in Iran inspired the spread of Islam in Indonesia, Mehr News Agency reported.

Nasruddin Umar told an Iranian delegation that different issues such as hijab for women, active mosques, Islamic activities in Indonesian universities and Asian southeastern countries were all inspired the Islamic Revolution which occurred in 1979 in Iran.

Indonesia’s deputy minister for Religious Affairs received an Iranian delegation, Dr Mostafavi the deputy-head of Iran’s Supreme Leader’s international office in Indonesia, Hajjatoleslam Seyyed Morteza Mousawi, head of local Islamic Center in Jakarta, and Hojjatolah Ebrahimian Iran’s Cultural Attaché in Indonesia.

Umar welcomed the Iranian delegation and told that Indonesia and Iran had long-lasting relations and existing Persian vocabulary in Indonesian language proved it. He went on saying that the two countries shared common civilization and culture (an idea which, at best, could be evaluated as ‘falsely conceived’ given the long distance between the two countries).

He added that unity among Shiites and Sunnis was one of the main responsibilities of both countries’ officials. “Cultural and ideological differences are beautiful and we do not need to unify all to resolve disagreements,” Umar said.