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Indonesian scholars stand up against growing intolerance
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People take part in a running event called “ToleRUN” in a bid to promote tolerance amid the growing racial and religious intolerance related to the Jakarta gubernatorial election. (JP/wnd)
I
ndonesian scholars are standing up against religious intolerance, which has gained a stronger foothold in the country recently. The scholars say such intolerance goes against the values embedded in Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity).
Scholars, politicians and lecturers gathered at the headquarters of the Wahid Foundation on Thursday to discuss the country's identity crisis after the emergence of interfaith disharmony this year.
"Diversity is our collective awareness and identity. Therefore, we decry any kind of violent or intolerant actions against other beliefs and races," University of Indonesia law professor Sulistyowati Irianto said at the event.
Other figures present at the event included sociology researcher Geger Riyanto, Wahid Foundation executive director Yenny Wahid, University of Indonesia philosophy lecturer Rocky Gerung and politician Kartini Sjahrir.
"Nowadays, one can easily become intolerant because of the wrong perceptions that are disseminated excessively. For example, a lot of religious leaders preach and emphasize violence in jihad,” Yenny said.
Recently, the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) took the law into its own hands and demanded that shopping centers in Surabaya, East Java, refrain from asking Muslim workers to wear Christmas-related apparel. The move from the hard-liners came about after a fatwa issued by the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) banning Muslims from wearing paraphernalia related to other faiths.
"The country has allowed many houses of worship to be demolished, religious rituals to be stopped and hatred to be excessively disseminated. Therefore, we want to represent scholars here and say that we are against intolerant actions," Sulistyowati said. (adt/evi)
