Athanasia Safitri
In collaboration with Brigham Young University’s International Center for Law and Religion Studies (BYU-ICLRS), ICRS & CRCS held a talk entitled “Promoting Freedom of Religion or Belief in Indonesia: Challenges and Opportunities." The speakers shared their insights on the issues of religious freedom or belief (FoRB) at the Post Graduate School of UGM on Sept 11, 2024.
Dr. Techn. Khabib Mustofa, S.Si., M.Kom, the representative from the Post Graduate School gave his welcoming remarks, stating that more collaborations are needed in the form of study courses and training programs on FoRB to overcome the challenges we face today. His speech was followed by Prof. Dr. Fatimah Hussein of ICRS who informed the audience about the research fundings, workshops, and training to help scholars promoting FoRB.
Brett Scharffs, the director of BYU-ICLRS, explained the projects with UGM, the founding of ICLRS in 2000, various conferences, and the publication of books and proceeding papers on human rights and FoRB. He also mentioned that the conference in July 2024 about religious perspectives on human dignity and artificial intelligence was an opportunity to work together to contribute to the good of the world.
The existing freedom of religion or belief
Hurriah, the first speaker, shared her thoughts on the politics of religious freedom in Indonesia. She discussed the growing restrictions on FoRB which rely on religious values, security considerations, and the old governance of religion as precedents. She suggested some recommendations to improve political advocacy and judicialization of religious freedom in order to accelerate FoRB discourse and education as well as enhance the civil society’s capacity to safeguard and promote FoRB.
The second speaker Manunggal K. Wardaya gave a talk about FoRB in Indonesian higher education. He highlighted several problems facing the education of FoRB in university settings along with their inevitable impacts of which he concluded the FoRB in higher education is still very limited. He then presented recommendations to improve human rights related subjects in higher education, informing his recommendations with the International Human Rights declarations. First, he recommended universities add human rights (HR) law, especially article 18 of the ICCPR, to relevant curricula. Second, that universities should introduce legal education to their curricula, approaching the topic legalistically and critically. And third, he recommended the development of more synergies between the religious studies and legal studies faculties of universities and relevant institutions to develop and improve curricula that promote HR law & FoRB.
FoRB and indigenous religions
Samsul Maarif, the third speaker, pointed out the realities for the indigenous religions in Indonesia in relation with the believers’ freedom in practising it. He described the position of indigenous religion as stated in the Constitutional Court, as well as the apparent challenges. Maarif presented the Programs which have been conducted by indigenous religion groups such as holding Conference and consolidation, publishing papers, hosting cultural religious art performances, providing online forums which include vulnerable groups, and the establishment of schools of indigenous religions.
Maarif continued that the projects done in the field of indigenous religion groups may fit as well to the other religions. He listed community consolidation, capacity building for citizenship engagement, regeneration for the actors to promote FoRB, workshops that include teaching and promote knowledge of FoRB rights, and capacity building for asset mobilisation as pivotal points to improve the implementation of FoRB.
Ways to promote FoRB
There is a gap between law and regulation regarding FoRB when it is written and implemented. This discussion demonstrated that different perspectives on FoRB will be very helpful for better conduct and progress. For now, most regulations are designed from a legal perspective but further consideration from other perspectives and addressing different aspects of FoRB are much needed. From the indigenous religions’ point of view, there has been evidence that they have made persistent efforts to point out the gaps in FoRB policy and work towards recognition.
Several legal documents state how religion is defined and how it can be officially recognised. There has been negotiation between the society (especially the minority groups) and the state actors on how this freedom can be properly carried out. With the participation from other religious minorities and the openness and acceptance toward difference from the majority and state government, there should be more concrete methods to not only promote FoRB but also to aim for better and active tolerance and engagement amidst these challenges.