Islam is compatible with democracy and workers’ rights, says Hanafi Rustandi

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محتوى الصفحة: Home > مجلة النقل الدولي "Transport International" > Issue 36 - July 2009 > Opinion: Islam and democracy are compatible

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Indonesians went to the polls recently in the country’s third parliamentary elections in 10 years. This has proven to be one of the largest peaceful votes in our history, and that of the world. More than 170 million registered voters successfully came out to over half a million polling stations to fill the nearly 15,000 seats in our national and regional legislatures. Although certainly not perfect, this was all undertaken without violence, coercion, or intimidation.

Indonesia, the largest Muslim nation in the world, is also paving the way as the world’s third largest democracy, and has created its own model for its unique blend of predominately Islamic-rooted ideals, and a healthy respect for its citizens of all faiths and ethnic diversity. Indonesians should be proud of our progress in the last decade and look forward to a bright future.

“The biggest victim of the political realities of Iran is the people: its youth, its students, its women, its workers, the very lifeblood of the country’s existence”

Some have said Islam and democracy are not compatible, that the tenets of Islam do not allow for “democracy” as defined by Western countries. Recent realities have proven the pundits wrong and we move forward with great pride that our religious ideals remain intact alongside a strong state supported by fairly and freely elected officials. Of course, Indonesians experience a fair share of corruption and inefficiency that makes progress difficult at times. Like our brothers and sisters and Turkey, we have found a solid middle ground to move forward with confidence, melding our Muslim culture and faith with a government for and by the people, expressed by voting.

On the other hand, some nations blessed by the wisdom and virtues of the Islamic faith have ignored the call of freedom and have ultimately done a disservice to their people. One such nation, Iran, has stagnated development in its own zeal and greed to dominate the Middle East and espouse hate around the world. Rather than advancing from the great progress initiated during the Islamic Revolution in 1979, Iran has stunted its own growth primarily due to policies out of line with the beliefs of average Iranians. Iran is a true melting pot of religious beliefs and ethnic groups, comprised of Shi’a, Sunni, Kurd, Bahai, Balouch and Azeri to name just a few. It also claims one of the youngest populations on the planet. While on the surface this would seem to be a strength, the Iranian government has repeatedly suppressed this diversity in order to maintain a status quo of hard-line thought.

But it is too easy to label Iranians as “hardline” without delving into the true problems facing the Iranian people. The majority are subject to a massive and highly insecure police state, fuelled by hateful propaganda that prevents free thought, free press, and free and fair elections.The average person is unable to express alternative thought and cannot even use the internet freely, a factor that keeps the country in the stone age, while countries like Indonesia look to the future.

Currently, Iranian government policy is totalitarian in outlook, violent in nature, suppressing diversity of culture, religions, and thought, stopping at nothing to keep control.

The biggest victim of the political realities of Iran is the people: its youth, its students, its women, its workers, the very lifeblood of the country’s existence. Indonesia, by contrast, is blessed by a strong culture of hardwork, and government support to organised labour. In Iran, workers are not afforded any rights to bargain or question their treatment. Even the most basic effort by workers to have a voice is violently suppressed. Workers, students, women and others displaying an opposite view to that of the government are often detained, imprisoned, tortured and even killed.

At the time of writing, Iran is preparing for its presidential elections. We hope its people have come out in droves to vote and show their strong disagreement with the direction Khamenei’s policies have taken the country. As a fellow predominately Muslim nation, which has proven democracy and Islam can be as one, Indonesians should stand in solidarity with the people of Iran and wish them all the best possible future.

Hanifi Rustandi is the president of KPI and chairman of the ITF Indonesia Coordinating Committee.

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30/06/09
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Issue 36 - July 2009

نسخة الرسومات الكاملة

إمكانية الدخول | مساعدة الموقع | خريطة الموقع

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