Indonesia’s Islamic Courts and Justice for the Poor

Left to right: Prof. Tim Lindsey, Chief Justice the Hon. Patrick Keane, Chief Justice the Hon. Diana Bryant and Cate Sumner at the launch of 'courting reform: Indonesia's Islamic Courts and Justice for the Poor' at the Lowy Institute, Australia, Wednesday (8/12/10).

Source: www.lowyinstitute.org

Western perceptions of Islam in Indonesia are often dominated by images of radical minorities seeking a shari’ah state. In reality, however, mainstream Islamic institutions have played an important part in the post-Soeharto process of democratisation and institutional reform. Among them are Indonesia’s Islamic courts, the Pengadilan Agama or Religious Courts.

In a ground-breaking new Lowy Institute Paper, 'Courting reform: Indonesia’s Islamic courts and justice for the poor', Cate Sumner and Tim Lindsey explore how the Islamic courts have embraced reform within a judicial system notorious for corruption and incompetence, taking the lead in efforts to deliver decisions that are more accessible, transparent and fair, especially for women and the poor.

Click here to listen the launch presentation at the Lowy Institute,
And Click here to listen the interview on the paper with Cate Sumner and Tim Lindsey, hosted by Geraldine Doogue from ABC Radio National Australia.

 

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