Klaten Religious Harmony Forum Receives International Recognition, Advances to Preliminary Selection for Bahrain’s King Hamad Award for Coexistence and Tolerance 2025–2026

The Chairman of the Klaten Regency Forum for Religious Harmony (FKUB), KH. Syamsuddin Asyrofi, stated that several innovations introduced by FKUB Klaten to preserve religious harmony and promote tolerance have received international recognition and advanced to the preliminary selection stage of the King Hamad Award for Coexistence and Tolerance 2025–2026, organized by the Kingdom of Bahrain. The award offers a prize of US$1 million, equivalent to more than IDR 16.5 billion.
KH. Syamsuddin Asyrofi made the statement after attending a national prayer gathering (istighosah kebangsaan) led by Gus Miftah at Kuwoso Field, Gergunung, North Klaten, Klaten Regency, on Saturday, October 17, 2026.
“Our initiatives, including the establishment of Religious Harmony Associations (PKUB) in all 401 villages and urban wards and PKUB organizations in 26 subdistricts, as well as the development of a religious harmony education center at the Grha Bung Karno complex featuring six houses of worship, are part of our efforts to maintain harmony. We are also developing harmony-conscious villages based on local wisdom. Alhamdulillah, these modest efforts from Klaten have received international recognition and passed the initial selection for Bahrain’s King Hamad Award,” said KH. Syamsuddin Asyrofi.
He explained that FKUB Klaten has consistently collaborated with various stakeholders to maintain religious harmony. According to him, this strong cooperation has made Klaten a frequent destination for comparative study visits by delegations from different regions across Indonesia seeking to learn about its approach to fostering harmony.
“FKUB Klaten is highly collaborative, innovative, and committed to maintaining harmony. With FKUB’s involvement, problems can be resolved more easily, and we can continue to make improvements in the future. Many regions have come to Klaten to learn from our experience, and this is a valuable asset for us,” he explained.
Regarding the international competition, KH. Syamsuddin Asyrofi asked for prayers and support from all stakeholders so that FKUB Klaten could achieve success on the global stage.
“Alhamdulillah, Klaten is the only regency to have submitted entries in two categories in this prestigious competition: FKUB Klaten in the institutional category and H. Moch. Isnaeni in the individual category. We humbly ask for the prayers and support of everyone, including Deputy Regent Mahanni Yulindha Pratiwi, as FKUB’s adviser, the Regional Unity and Political Affairs Agency (Kesbangpol), the Ministry of Religious Affairs, religious leaders, and the entire Klaten community. We hope to succeed so that FKUB Klaten can become a global example of peaceful coexistence and tolerance amid diversity,” he said.
He added that this achievement would not have been possible without the support of all stakeholders and demonstrated that Klaten could serve as a model for maintaining religious harmony and tolerance. This is particularly important as all 401 villages and urban wards in Klaten are preparing for the stages of simultaneous village head elections scheduled for April 2027.
It is worth noting that FKUB Klaten is the only Religious Harmony Forum in Indonesia to have successfully established Religious Harmony Associations across all 401 villages and urban wards in the regency. This innovative initiative has helped FKUB Klaten secure a place among the nominees in an international competition involving hundreds of countries.
In addition to FKUB Klaten advancing through the preliminary selection, the forum’s secretary, H. Moch. Isnaeni, has also passed the initial selection for the same award in the individual category.
Moch. Isnaeni expressed his gratitude after learning that his submission had passed the preliminary selection for the international King Hamad Award for Coexistence and Tolerance.
“Alhamdulillah, this is a great responsibility for all of us at FKUB. This achievement is the result of our collective efforts. We ask for your prayers and support so that Klaten can represent Indonesia in Bahrain and on the world stage,” he said.
Tighten the international news lead
Resolve nomination and selection wording
Reduce repeated achievement claims