Prof. Tim Lindsey: A Revolutionary Progress of the Religious Courts

Prof. Tim Lindsey with the Director General of Badilag, Wahyu Widiana

Jakarta | Badilag.net (13/5)

Professor Tim Lindsey, Director of the Centre for Islamic Law and Society, visits Badilag’s office, Friday (13/5/2011). He is welcomed by Director General of Directorate of the Religious Courts, Wahyu Widiana in his workroom, 6th floor of the Supreme Court’s building.

The purpose of his visit is to discuss on the next Badilag’s programs and his research project that will be conducted in Indonesia in this year.

“As a researcher and a scholar, I am always interested to study about the recent development of the Religious Courts”, Tim said.

 

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Tim states that the Religious Courts have achieved a very rapid progress since 2005. It is a revolutionary progress.

 

He then tells his experience when he came to Indonesia at the first time in 1995. “I saw a court session in the Religious Court and I got an impression that the Religious Court was primitive with very bad building”. Tim said.

“Now we can see that almost of all Religious Courts have very great buildings”, Tim said. According to him, the Religious Courts have provides a wider access to justice for people. “I am proud of the Religious Courts”, Tim said.

The Director General of the Directorate of the Religious Courts, Wahyu Widiana conveys his deep appreciation to Prof. Tim for his great attention to the Religious Courts. “The efforts of Prof. Tim and of other Australian have given an important contribution for the Religious Courts”, Wahyu Widiana said.

“Tim’s book titled “Courting Reform” has encouraged and motivated all staffs of the Religious Court to do best”, Wahyu Widiana said.

At the end of his visit, Tim Lindsey gives two books to Wahyu Widiana. The first book titled “Indonesia: Law and Society” is the work of Tim. And the second book titled “Jihad Julia” the work of his wife, Julia Suryakusuma.