Indonesia

Indonesia arrests school principal after explosion

Source: Khaleej Times Indonesia on Friday arrested a principal of an Islamic boarding school suspected of being a bomb factory, following an explosion inside the campus that killed a man earlier this week, police said. Identified only as Abrori, the teacher was detained at his parents’ house in Bolo sub-district […]

In Indonesia, civil society is keeping tolerance alive

By Testriono, The Daily Star Recent cases of religious intolerance in Indonesia have led some observers to worry that U.S. President Barack Obama’s praise of religious tolerance in Indonesia during his visit in November 2010 was exaggerated. Public statements and decrees from Indonesian government officials have discredited religious minority groups […]

Poll: Young in Malaysia, Indonesia oppose polygamy

The vast majority of young Muslims in Indonesia and Malaysia appear to disapprove of the traditional acceptance of polygamy but remain reluctant to openly support interfaith marriages or premarital sex, a new survey shows. In the survey coordinated by two German-based cultural organizations, 86.5 percent of 1,496 Indonesians interviewed and 72.7 percent […]

Indonesians Climb into History With Seven Summits

A group of Indonesian climbers successfully reached the summit of Alaska’s Mount McKinley on Thursday, completing their goal of reaching the highest peaks on each of the seven continents. The ascent of the 6,194-meter-high McKinley, also known as Denali, makes the four climbers from Parahyangan Catholic University in Bandung — […]

Indonesia urged to repeal blasphemy laws

Indonesia has been urged to repeal its blasphemy laws and provide greater protection to religious minorities – including Christians and the Muslim Ahmadiyya sect – in order to safeguard its reputation as one of the world’s most progressive and tolerant Muslim-majority countries. “If extremists are allowed to continue to terrorise religious minorities with impunity, […]

Indonesia gets taste of Chinese culture

JAKARTA, Indonesia – Chinese art, dance, movies and music are expected to charm Indonesians in an event called “Experience China”, which kicked off on Tuesday in the capital of the Southeast Asian nation. Organized by China’s State Council Information Office, the event will be held throughout July in the cities […]

The ties between Indonesia and China

Indonesia: A success story in Asia and the Pacific If we take a look at the historical perspective, the ties between Indonesia and China date back to ancient times. Some pundits even mentioned that the two countries had actually started their relations since the fifth century. But one thing is […]

Indonesia’s religious freedom must be for all: Religious Freedom in Indonesia: The Case of the Ahmadiyya

In ‘Indonesia’s Religious Freedom Must Be For All,’ Bernhard Platzdasch of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS), Singapore, writes that a clampdown on the Islamic Ahmadiyah sect brings into focus the larger context of religious freedom and tolerance in today’s Indonesia. Indonesia has since independence proclaimed itself a religiously […]

Prosecutor weak in Ahmadiyah trial: Elsam

A team monitoring the trials of an attack against religious minority group Ahmadiyah said Monday the prosecutor performed below standard. It said many witnesses’ statements were not well-explored during the trials. Wahyu Wagiman, a team member from the Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (Elsam), told reporters the prosecutor ignored […]