Seattle Symposium Underline Indonesia Success in Deradicalization
20 October 2016 23:10 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - As the country with the largest Muslim population in the world, Indonesia has been considered as an example for other countries in democracy. The title was given in a symposium entitled "Approaches to Religious, Violence, Radicalism, and Deradicalization: Perspective from the US and Indonesia" held in Seattle, US, on Tuesday, October 18, 2016.
The symposium featured Gareth Barkin, an anthropologist and professor of Asian studies from the University of Puget Sound. Speaking at the symposium were professor of political science Mark Smith and theologist James Wellman from the University of Washington.
The symposium also featured experts from Indonesia, namely Muhammad Ali, head of the Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies program at the University of California, Riverside; Tonny Parieal, a sociologist from the Pattimura University; and Muhammad Wildan, a professor and researcher of Islamic politics from the Sunan Kalijaga State Islamic University.
The event was held by the Indonesian Consulate General in San Francisco, in collaboration with the University of Washington.
Indonesian Consul General Ardi Hermawan said in a speech that Indonesia is a model for the international community.
"Muslims in Indonesia are moderate and democratic ones," Ardi said.
The symposium was a part of a series of similar ones held in universities in the US on Saturday, October 15, 2016.
During the event, speakers said that Indonesia has been successful in executing counterterrorism efforts, since the country has no repressive government.
"Indonesia has also been successful in conducting deradicalization efforts to address radical groups at the grassroot level," Muhammad Ali said.
Tonny Pariela and Muhammad Wildan presented research, observation, and findings showing that Islam in Indonesia is a religion of peace and is not anti-democracy.
Speakers agreed that schools and universities serve an important role to disseminate proper understanding on democracy. Schools are also expected to prevent extremism among young generations.
DP
