Peter van Tuijl, Director, Netherlands Education Support Office in Jakarta
Caroline Hughes,Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, C.S.C., Chair of Peace Studies
Ebrahim Moosa, Professor of Islamic Studies, Keough School of Global Affairs
Lailatul Fitriyah, Ph.D. Student in Theology
Mun’im Sirry, Assistant Professor of Theology
Civil society leaders have been among the most important promoters of human rights. In recent years, human rights movements have faced growing challenges from populist leaders and identity movements that show contempt for human rights and advocate increasingly authoritarian policies. Indonesia has experienced a surge in movements that project an Islamist identity at the expense of the rights of religious minorities and of women and sexual minorities. In 2017, the Indonesian Government decided to ban the Indonesian Chapter of Hizbut Tahrir (HTI), declaring that HTI’s aspiration to construct an Islamic State runs counter to the State’s philosophy which supports religious tolerance. This decision has split Indonesian civil society movements.
The question of religious tolerance and identity politics in Indonesia is relevant to global research and policy analysis on the role of religion in relation to peace, development, and human rights.
Co-sponsored by the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies, and the Ansari Institute for Global Engagement with Religion.
Originally published at kroc.nd.edu.