President of Centro da Communidade Islamica de Timor Leste (CENCISTIL) or Muslim Community of Timor Leste, Arif Abdullah Sagran, visited the State Islamic University (UIN) Sjech Muhammad Djamil Djambek Bukittinggi on Thursday (1/8/2024). The visit aims to discuss cooperation opportunities and strengthen the international network of both institutions.
Although the Muslim population declined in the early days after the secession from Indonesia, at least Islam now seems to have been reborn in Timor Leste. Arif Abdullah Sagran said, the government of Timor Leste’s secular political policy frees every religion to continue to grow and develop as long as it does not offend national interests.
Arif Abdullah Sagran said, the development of Islam in Timor Leste currently has begun to look massive and coordinated since it was accommodated by the Islamic Institute of Timor Leste or Centro da Communidade Islamica de Timor Leste (CENCISTIL) which was established on 10 December 2002. “This institution covers almost all aspects of Islamic development, ranging from da’wah, education, communication, information, organisation, and so on, which has been well received by the government authorities,” added Arif Abdullah Sagran, who is also the Vice Chancellor of Dili University.
Vice Rector of UIN Bukittinggi for Student Affairs, Alumni and Cooperation, Dr H. Arman Husni, said that UIN Bukittinggi appreciates the efforts of Centro da Communidade Islamica de Timor Leste in fostering the Muslim community in Timor Leste. Therefore, he continued, the cooperation between UIN Bukittinggi and CENCISTIL is very strategic and valuable for both institutions. “Cooperation in the field of research and community service is expected to be established with CENCISTIL in the near future,” he added. (international office of uin bukittinggi).