Category Archives: INDONESIA

Talk on People Smuggling at RSIS, Singapore, and the University of Melbourne

On 3 September 2013, Melissa gave a talk at the Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.The talk was based on the policy paper on ‘People Smuggling Trials in Indonesia’, co-authored with Dr Antje Missbach. Dr Antje Missbach will also be giving a talk on People Smuggling Trials inContinue reading “Talk on People Smuggling at RSIS, Singapore, and the University of Melbourne”

Report: Australian attitudes towards Indonesia

The Department of Foreign Affairs (Australia) has released the results of a new survey conducted by Newspoll on ‘Australian attitudes towards Indonesia‘. Most Australians surveyed wrongly believe that Indonesia’s legal system is based on Islamic law, and are not aware that Indonesia is a democracy. On this issue of people smuggling, 50% of respondents wereContinue reading “Report: Australian attitudes towards Indonesia”

Indonesian Constitutional Court reconsiders Blasphemy Law

In 2012, a new case challenging the constitutionality of Indonesia’s Blasphemy Law was lodged with the Constitutional Court.[i] Since Indonesia’s transition to democracy, over 150 individuals from minority religious groups have been convicted of blasphemy. The Blasphemy Law in Indonesia confers power on the Minister of Religion to warn or ban a religious group if itContinue reading “Indonesian Constitutional Court reconsiders Blasphemy Law”

Policy paper: Trials of People Smugglers in Indonesia

On 21 May 2013, a policy paper, ‘Trials of People Smugglers in Indonesia: 2007-2012‘, written by Dr Antje Missbach and Dr Melissa Crouch was launched by the new Centre for Indonesian Law, Islam and Society, at the University of Melbourne. The policy paper addresses the critical need for greater knowledge and understanding of how the contemporary Indonesian legal systemContinue reading “Policy paper: Trials of People Smugglers in Indonesia”

Centre for Indonesian Law, Islam and Society

The Centre for Indonesian Law, Islam and Society (CILIS), located in the Melbourne Law School, was recently established, and will be officially launched on 21 May 2013. The Centre was previously known as the Centre for Islamic Law and Society, but has been renamed in order to reflect the focus of its research and seminar programmes.Continue reading “Centre for Indonesian Law, Islam and Society”

Limits of Religious Pluralism in Asia

Anew edited volume by Juliana Finucane and Michael Feener has been released on Proselytizing and the Limits of Religious Pluralism in Contemporary Asia, published by Springer. The publication is a result of a conference hosted by the Asia Research Institute, NUS. My chapter examines the Indonesian context and the enforcement of the criminal offence of deceiving a child toContinue reading “Limits of Religious Pluralism in Asia”

Indonesian Draft Law on Inter-religious Harmony

Ihave written an article on ‘Shifting Conceptions of State Regulation of Religion: The Indonesian Draft Law on Inter-religious Harmony’ (2013) Global Change, Peace and Security 1-18. This article seeks to understand how and why states regulate the activities or affairs of religious communities. It does so through a case study of the Indonesian Draft Law on Inter-religious Harmony.Continue reading “Indonesian Draft Law on Inter-religious Harmony”

The Challenge of Regulating Religious Freedom in Indonesia

In September 2012, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (known as “SBY”) made an announcement to the United Nations to urge the international community to adopt an international instrument banning blasphemy and protecting religion. This came as a surprise to many because, throughout his term as president, SBY has failed to take a strong public stance on anyContinue reading “The Challenge of Regulating Religious Freedom in Indonesia”