Jakarta – The Indonesian Ministry of Law and Human Rights together with Leimena Institute is conducting an International Virtual Conference entitled Religious Freedom, Rule of Law, and Cross-cultural Religious Literacy for three consecutive days on September 13-15, 2022. The conference which will be held via Zoom starting today, Tuesday at 8:00-10:00 a.m. US EDT (12:00-2:00 p.m. GMT), is open to the public and features prominent speakers from Indonesia and overseas.

As of Tuesday, 5,915 people have registered for the said international conference. The registration link will continue to be open during the conference and can be accessed via https://leimena.org/conference.

Indonesian Minister of Law and Human Rights, Yasonna H Laoly, is the keynote speaker on the first day and the theme of his speech is “Religious Freedom and Rule of Law”, while Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Mohammad Mahfud MD, and Indonesian Vice Minister of Law and Human Rights, Eddy O.S. Hiariej, will be the keynote speakers on the second and third day respectively.

This international virtual conference analyzes in depth several challenges and dynamics in the implementation of religious freedom in Indonesia from the perspectives of national laws and international instruments. Interreligious harmony, as has been realized, becomes stronger when the community understands and respects the law, so that conflict resolution can be carried out in accordance with the prevailing laws of the country.

Director General of Human Rights under the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Mualimin Abdi, said that as stated in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.

“This is in keeping with the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia which places human rights into a portion that is quite significant as can be seen in Articles 28A to 28J,” stated Mualimin at a media gathering related to the execution of the international conference in Jakarta, Friday (Sept 9^th, 2022)

Mualimin said that Indonesia officially recognizes six religions, but still guarantees freedom for its citizens to embrace religions and beliefs outside of them. Article 28E paragraph 1 of the 1945 Constitution of Republic of Indonesia affirms that every person shall be free to choose and to practice the religion of his/her choice. The right to freedom of religion is also guaranteed in Article 29 paragraph 2 of the 1945 Constitution, which declares that the State guarantees the freedom of each and every citizen to embrace his/her respective religion, and to worship according to his/her own religion or belief.

“Therefore, one of the duties of the state is to protect the right of each individual to freedom of religion and worship. However, keep in mind that freedom of religion as a human right must exist side-by-side with legal instruments. In the same way, the law must exist side-by-side with human rights, so that harmony ensues in society,” Mualimin said.

Meanwhile, Executive Director of Leimena Institute, Matius Ho, stated that the public’s understanding of the importance of religious freedom as protected by the Constitution is an important capital for the progress of Indonesia as a pluralist nation amid polarization challenges that is increasing in the world.

In this context, the international conference that is being conducted by the Ministry of Law and Human Rights together with Leimena Institute aims to encourage state and society synergy in building a tolerant culture that upholds the rule of law and avoids potentially divisive behavior.

“The state and civil society are expected to work together to become the main movers in strengthening the rule of law in order to protect and promote religious freedom in accordance with the mandate of the 1945 Constitution,” Matius said.

Matius explained that the international virtual conference is the implementation of the Cooperation Agreement between the Ministry of Law and Human Rights and Leimena Institute on June 8, 2022. This event is part of the Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy (CCRL) program that Leimena Institute started in 2021 along with various national partners, and the CCRL program has been attended by more than 2,400 teachers from 33 provinces through international trainings, workshops and international conferences.

Indonesian speakers in this conference include among others Minister of Religious Affairs, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, Grand Imam of the Istiqlal Mosque, Nasaruddin Umar, Board Member of the Pancasila Ideology Development Agency, Amin Abdullah, Senior Advisor of the Executive Office of the Presidential Staff, Siti Ruhaini Dzuhayatin, and Chair of Women, Youth, and Family Affairs of the Indonesian Ulama Council, Amany Lubis.

The conference also provides an international perspective through Managing Co-Chair of the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Roundtable, Greg Mitchell. IRF Roundtable is a forum consisting of interreligious leaders in the United States (US) who work together for the freedom of religion and belief globally.

Other international speakers include Vice President of Global Operations of the Institute for Global Engagement, James Chen, who has experience in several countries regarding the cultivation of respect for diversity and differences. Also in the roster of speakers are Vice President of the G20 Interfaith Association, Katherine Marshall, Founder & President of Hardwired Global, Tina Ramirez, Executive Director of The Sanneh Institute from Ghana, John Azumah, and Senior Research Fellow at the University of Washington, Chris Seiple. [IL/Chr]