IRCICA Director General Prof. Mahmud Erol Kılıç conducted a series of cultural activities in Indonesia relating to both scholarly and artistic areas of cooperation between Indonesia and IRCICA.
In the first stage of his working visit to Indonesia, Prof. Mahmud Erol Kılıç gave a lecture at the Institute for Humanitarian Islam in Menteng, Jakarta, Indonesia, on 18 July 2025, within the program themed “Humanitarian Action from the Perspective of Islamic Culture”. Prof. Kılıç spoke on the principles of Islamic philosophy and mysticism that are important for humanitarian action; the coverage of these issues in higher education and his own experiences in teaching philosophy and mysticism for twenty-five years; the application of Islamic ethical concepts in social life and in developing cultural perspectives on global issues. The Institute for Humanitarian Islam works to promote shared civilizational values at the global level in cooperation with Nahdlatul Ulama and a group of closely affiliated entities, including the Center for Shared Civilizational Values and the G20 Religion Forum (R20).
Furthermore, within the framework of his program of cultural activities in Indonesia, IRCICA Director General Prof. Mahmud Erol Kılıç conducted a 2-day intensive program of lectures at the Akademi Kepemimpinan Nasional Nahdlatul Ulama (AKN-NU) – National Leadership Academy of Nahdlatul Ulama in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 19-20 July 2025. The program titled “Mystical Interpretation of Islam from the Point of View of History, Art and Culture” attended by fifty religious scholars was conducted at Nahdlatul Ulama’s premises and arranged as two lecture sessions per day followed by Q&A discussions.
During the period of his cultural contacts and activities in Indonesia, Professor Kılıç also gave interviews to various media institutions on cultural issues, global peace, and international relations.
Another feature of the program of IRCICA Director General Prof. Mahmud Erol Kılıç in Indonesia was the ceremony held at Nahdlatul Ulama Center on 21 July 2025 to present the award certificates of ten calligraphers from Indonesia awarded in the 13th IRCICA International Calligraphy Competition. The certificates were delivered to them by IRCICA Director General Prof. Kılıç together with the Minister of Culture of Indonesia H.E. Mr. Fadli Zon, the General Chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama Central Board and Founder & Chairman of G20 Religion Forum (R20) H.E. Kyai Haji Yahya Cholil Staquf, and the Competition Jury Member and Master Calligrapher Hamidi Belaid. The award winners were Mr. Nafang Utama, first prize in Jaly Diwani; Mr. Mufid Fauzan, third prize in Jaly Diwani; Mr. Bukhari Ibnu Athoillah, third prize in Diwani; Mr. Achmad Jalaluddin and Mr. Muhammad Hilal, mentions in Jaly Diwani; Mr. Rahadhyan Wisena Yusuf and Mr. Yusuf Elang Samuderaq, mentions in Diwani; Mrs. Mumsika Mumsika, mention in Qufi; Mr. Huda Purnawardi and Mr. Faldil Aj Pujiarsa, mentions in Jaly Thuluth. The competition, dedicated to the calligrapher M. Abdulaziz al-Rifai (1872-1934) was finalized in May 2025.
