Time for Indonesia to Contribute to Islamic Thoughts in the World

IL News 010/2014

Jakarta, May 8th, 2014

Intolerant behavior or violence in the name of religion is an increasing phenomenon in Indonesia. The emergence of radical groups claiming under the banner of Islam has become an issue in itself. In fact, Islam in Indonesian has long been known as friendly, not angry, Islam. Unfortunately, the emerging problem is not unique for Indonesia, but it’s becoming a global issue. Islam in the eyes of the world is becoming identified—inaccurately—with violence, dictatorship, and intolerant behavior.

As a response, on May 8th, 2014, the Leimena Institute facilitated a meeting with religious and public leaders, including: Ahmad Suaedy (Executive Director of Abdurrahman Wahid Center-University of Indonesia), Ahmad Syafii Maarif (founder of Maarif Institute), Emil Salim (Chairman of Presidential Advisory Council), Rev. Gomar Gultom (General Secretary of Communion of Churches in Indonesia), Harjono (former Judge of Indonesian Constitutional Court), Ambassador Jakob Tobing (Leimena President), Maruarar Siahaan (Rector of Indonesian Christian University), Musdah Mulia (Chairman of Indonesian Conference on Religion and Peace), Nasaruddin Umar (Vice Minister of Religion), KH. Salahuddin Wahid (Chair of Tebuireng Islamic Boarding School), RK Sembiring Meliala (Leimena Trustee), and YW Junardy (President of Indonesia Global Compact Network). This meeting discussed the idea of promoting friendly and tolerant Indonesian Islam as a model in the world.

This will provide an alternative view and enrich the understanding of Islam in the world, which so far has oriented mainly toward the Middle Eastern countries as the main model. Indonesia has mostly been considered as an “anomaly” since it is a modern democracy with the world’s largest Muslim population.

On the other hand, this is also to encourage the Indonesian people to realize the valuable asset that they have and to care for it for the future. Thus, the growth of intolerant acts currently on the rise in parts of the country can be prevented.

The participants had a lively discussion to understand the root causes of this issue. It’s time for Indonesia to contribute big ideas to the world and the people themselves.