It is the women's role to strengthen and maintain a moderate religious outlook because most extremism cases in Indonesia have a religious backgroundJakarta (ANTARA) - The role of women is essential to tackle and counter extremism in Indonesia because they can help strengthen and maintain a moderate religious outlook, Director of Gusdurian Network Indonesia Alissa Wahid asserted. "It is the women's role to strengthen and maintain a moderate religious outlook because most extremism cases in Indonesia have a religious background," Wahid stated in a dialogue about the women's role in strengthening the outlook on nationalism on Monday.
Extremism and intolerance with religious undertones not only occurred as an isolated occurrence but is a phenomenon in several regions with the prevailing majority religion, she noted.
"One of the main factors causing this phenomenon is the superior feeling of the majority that feels the minority should bow to them," she explained.
Women, as motherly figures, have an essential role to prevent extremism by instilling nationalist values and nurturing a moderate religious outlook in their families, Wahid added.
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Indonesia's religious moderation could be assessed by four indicators of nationalism, tolerance, non-violence, and acceptance of different traditions, she said.
The first indicator of nationalism assessed public acceptance to established national systems and principles enshrined on the national ideology, the national constitution, and other laws, she pointed out.
The second indicator of tolerance would assess whether the Indonesian public respect differences, freedom of expression, religious rights, equality, and is willing to cooperate with people of a different faith, Wahid stated.
The third indicator of non-violence is determined by observing violence or non-violent methods employed by a particular group to achieve their desired goal, Wahid asserted.
The fourth indicator of acceptance to tradition could be seen by acceptance to foreign cultures and traditions as long as it does not violate religious tenets, she noted.
"We should strengthen our awareness that as Indonesians, we ought to live with the spirit of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity)," Wahid stated.
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Translator: Putu Indah S, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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