Navigating politics, religious freedom for prosperity in Indonesia

KUALA LUMPUR - To maintain a clear understanding of the need to balance religious freedom and prosperity in Indonesia, it's important to shed light on both supremacist politics and religious freedom.

This was stressed by the Director of the Centre for Religious and Cross-Cultural Studies (CTCS), Dr Iqbal Ahnaf, during his presentation titled 'Religion, Violence, and Peacebuilding', at the 10th International Islam and Liberty Conference (ILN), held at the Concorde Hotel in Kuala Lumpur today.

Iqbal pointed out that research has found that countries with greater religious freedom tend to experience lower corruption levels, more robust economies, and increased social diversity.

"However, I argued that this assumption does not hold true in the Indonesian context. In fact, I want to stress that supremacist politics are not limited to fringe groups.

"Instead, they have infiltrated mainstream politics as well. Not to forget, political parties have leveraged supremacist ideologies to gain votes and support.

"This integration of extremist views into the political landscape has contributed to the normalisation of supremacist rhetoric," Iqbal stressed.

Not to mention, this politics has greatly impacted Indonesian society, where it has triggered discrimination and violence against minority groups.

"Communities once known for their harmonious coexistence are now experiencing tensions fueled by supremacist ideologies," he elaborated.

While democratic principles emphasise inclusivity and equal rights, Iqbal elaborated that supremacist movements seek to undermine these values.

Prior to this, he pointed out several key factors to combat Indonesian society's supremacist politics.

This includes promoting education and awareness to debunk extremist ideologies, strengthening social cohesion, and enacting policies that safeguard the rights of all citizens regardless of their religious or ethnic background.

On day two, the ILN conference aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of religious, political, economic, peace, and prosperity matters in Muslim-majority countries. The two-day conference is organised by the Islam and Liberty Network Foundation with the support of the Atlas Network, the Network for a Free Society, and Amanie Advisors, in collaboration with Emir Research and the Institute for Leadership and Development Studies (LEAD).