Muhammadiyah Should Do More to Protect Religious Minorities, New Chief Says

Jakarta Globe, Yustinus Paat & Kiblat Said, Aug 07, 2015

Newly elected Muhammadiyah chairman Haedar Nashir, right, has stressed the
‘reality that we all live in a pluralist nation.’ (Antara Photo/Yusran Uccang)

Makassar, South Sulawesi. The newly elected chairman of Muhammadiyah, Indonesia’s second-biggest Islamic organization, has urged the group’s 30 million followers to work toward better protection for religious minorities in the country.

“The reality is that we all live in a pluralist nation,” Haedar Nashir said at a press conference at the Makassar Muhammadiyah University soon after his election on Thursday evening. “The majority should protect minorities; minorities should work with the majority.”

“We need the capacity to mediate conflicts, whether they concern religious or ethnic minorities, and we must create a pluralist culture that looks after minorities wherever they are,” he added.

Haedar, who until recently taught at the Yogyakarta Muhammadiyah University, was elected chairman of Muhammadiyah at the group’s 47th congress in Makassar, South Sulawesi, and will serve a five-year term.

At his inaugural press conference as Muhammadiyah chairman, Haedar also reiterated his intention to keep the organization politically neutral.

“Muhammadiyah will not be affiliated with any political party or movement. Muhammadiyah will not establish or have structural ties to any political party,” he said. “But we are committed to fostering relations with all national actors, including political parties.”

Haedar’s position runs counter to a recommendation of the plenary session during the Makassar congress that urged the organization to morph into a political party.