If anyone wonders why Indonesia has been ineffective in curbing extremism, the anti-Ahok campaign provides an object lesson. In the name of demanding that the Jakarta governor be prosecuted for blasphemy, it brings together violent extremists, moralist thugs and powerful political interests. And because of the latter, no one dares challenge it. Indonesia’s spineless political leaders have allowed extremists to ... Read More »
The campaign period for the Jakarta gubernatorial race kicked off Friday with a joint declaration by human rights activists and leading Muslim figures to promote an election that is free from racism and sectarianism. Ismail Hasani, research director of the Setara Institute rights group, said on Friday that although many surveys showed only a small number of Jakarta residents would ... Read More »
Jakarta. While Indonesians celebrated National Youth Pledge Day on Friday (28/10), prominent Muslim scholars and an association that represents students in Islamic schools, or santri, called on the public to avoid the issues of race, ethnicity, religion and intergroup dynamics during the period leading up to the Jakarta gubernatorial election. Friday also marked the first day of campaigning, which will ... Read More »
A fact-finding team has urged the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) to file a case review on the controversial acquittal of former State Intelligence Agency (BIN) deputy chief Muchdi Purwopranjono, who was accused of being involved in the murder of prominent rights defender Munir Said Thalib. Hendardi of the Setara Institute, a member of a government-commissioned fact-finding team (TPF) set up ... Read More »
Jakarta. The Setara Institute for Democracy and Peace has urged the government to do more to prevent radicalization following a knife attack in Tangerang, Banten, on Thursday (22/10) by a man believed to be an Islamic State sympathizer. The 22-year-old man, reportedly acting alone, stabbed three police officers with a knife after applying an Islamic State sticker on their shelter. ... Read More »
Setara Institute For Democracy and Peace