Suchergebnisse

This article discusses a different side of two controversial fatwas — one against Muslims participating in Christmas celebrations and the other against pluralism, liberalism and secularism — issued by the Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI, Council of Indonesian Ulama). Most studies on MUI have emphasised the role that the Council's fatwas have played in inciting sectarian violence in Indonesia. Without denying the connections between violence and the MUI fatwas, this article argues that these controversial fatwas have also opened up room for more fruitful and constructive discussions among different religious groups in Indonesia. This article asks: What were the roots of the controversy over these intolerant fatwas? How did the state respond to them? And what does the controversy over these fatwas tell us about the nature of public debate on Islam in Indonesia? By answering these questions this article will shed light on aspects of contemporary Indonesian public debates about Islam that have been overlooked in current scholarship.

This article highlights various forms of uncivil behavior among Indonesian students which may become the seed of conflict, including bullying, which reflect how fragile youth civility is. Civility and incivility are different yet linked concepts that manifest with complexity in schools and beyond. Anecdotal evidence of incivility among young people is present in various forums, including social media and news coverage. Based on a mixed-methods design of quantitative and qualitative research, this study shows that incivility, bullying, intolerant, and aggressive behavior are prevalent both within and beyond the school environment in Indonesia. However, these uncivil behaviors have not been addressed with a sense of urgency in the country. It is hoped that this article will shed some light on the seriousness of uncivil behavior among Indonesian youth, which requires close attention on the part of schools, policy-makers and society at large.