Jakarta, July 8 -- The Indonesian National Alms Agency (Baznas) has suggested that the government consider granting mosques the status of strategic national assets, citing the critical and wide-ranging role such houses of worship play in community development.

"I believe mosques should be recognized as national strategic assets. Mosques offer social capital, serving as places where the people grow. However, I have not found any mosque with national strategic asset status," Baznas' Head of Distribution and Utilization Saidah Sakwan remarked.

Speaking at a national discussion and workshop on mosques in Jakarta on Tuesday, Sakwan emphasized the importance of the state exerting greater efforts to help mosques develop and thrive not only as ...