
Khilafatul Muslimin: Not a Serious Threat to Indonesia Yet
A'an Suryana
Khilafatul Muslimin, an Islamist organisation in Indonesia, has tried but failed to influence public opinion. But the government should keep it on a tight leash.
A'an Suryana
Khilafatul Muslimin, an Islamist organisation in Indonesia, has tried but failed to influence public opinion. But the government should keep it on a tight leash.
Thomas Borchert
Recent media reporting about a Thai monk caught drunk and indecently exposed follows a long line of attention-grabbing headlines about monastic misbehaviour. Even so, Thai attitudes about such rule-breaking are more nuanced than these reports would suggest.
Norshahril Saat
Indonesia religious teacher Abdul Somad was denied entry to Singapore. His followers have decried Islamophobia as being behind the decision. This cannot be farther from the truth.
Ahalla Tsauro|Firmanda Taufiq
The neo-FPI, the latest reincarnation of the Islamic Defenders Front, has sought to make a clean break from its controversial predecessor. Indonesians should take it with a dollop of salt.
Wasisto Raharjo Jati
Since 2014, it has appeared as though the traditionalists in Nahdlatul Ulama have won the upper hand in influencing the Islamic discourse in Indonesia, having pushed back against hardline and conservative elements. However, the conservatives remain a critical opposition, and sharp ideological differences will keep tensions simmering.
A'an Suryana|Norshahril Saat
This year’s Ramadhan saw less bickering among Indonesian Muslims about the appropriate start date for the blessed month. The ‘agree to disagree’ approach should be employed in other facets of the country’s socio-religious life.
Mary Callahan
The monks in Pakokku, a major centre of Buddhist learning and training, have not reprised the role played by their predecessors in the historic Saffron Revolution in 2007. Several factors can explain this, the foremost of which revolves around the clergy’s conception of order and hierarchy.
Rusli Cahyadi|Ahmad Najib Burhani
For the longest time, Indonesians endured a sonic pandemonium in their cities. It is about time that some regulation is effected to lower levels of noise.
Syafiq Hasyim|Norshahril Saat
The newly-elected chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama has a grand vision about humanitarian Islam. In practice, however, the policy is found wanting when it comes to attending to the needs of the NU rank and file.
Norshahril Saat|Syafiq Hasyim
Newly elected NU Chairman Yahya Cholil Staquf campaigned on a platform to depoliticise NU in the run-up to the next elections. But NU's new leadership line-up suggests otherwise.