Seminar of HISSI:

The Religious Courts to Solve Sharia Economy Disputes

Jakarta l badilag.net

Since Islam prohibits Moslems to perform riba, it encourages them to develop a system of economy based on the Sharia principles. In Indonesia, it is generally known as Sharia economy. Although some scholars are still in disputes on the concept, but it can not be denied that it is Islamic teaching. Therefore it is really a wrong assumption that the Religious Courts examine on family legal matters only. More than that, they examine any legal dispute on Sharia economy.

Badilag Awards Some Religious Courts

DG of Badilag, Wahyu Widiana with all winners from the Religious Courts and the High Religious Courts

During a National Seminar on sharia economy, held by the Association of Indonesian Sharia Intellectuals and Scholars (HISSI/Himpunan Ilmuan dan Sarjana Syariah Indonesia), Badilag awards some Religious Courts as well as High Religious Courts for their achievements to develop websites, in Syahida Inn, Ciputat City, Saturday (18/6/2011).

According to the Director General of Badilag, Wahyu Widiana, the awards are based on the website assessment conducted by National Legal Reform Program (NLRP), an NGO from Netherlands. The assessment was conducted at the beginning of 2011.

“Congratulation to the winners. By awarding some Religious Courts as well as High Religious Courts, we want to motivate other Religious Courts to improve their websites”, Wahyu Widiana said. He emphasizes the importance of regular update for websites.

NLRP’s assessment shows that the five best of the best courts are dominated by Religious Courts and High Religious Courts. The Religious Court of Bantul, Yogyakarta gains the top position (31 points). And four out of five courts are the Religious Court of Yogyakarta (30 points), the Religious Court of Sleman (30 points), the High Religious Court of Yogyakarta (30 points), and the High Religious Court of Surabaya (29 points).

Wahyu Widiana explains that the recent scores may change and increase. He is very sure that others Religious Courts have made some important improvements toward their websites.

According to him, websites play an important role to encourage our reform programs. Websites will urge all Religious Courts to provide the best services to people. Transparency of courts is the main purpose of the existence of websites.

Meanwhile, NLRP as explained in its book, states that the top five courts are the role model for all courts, at all levels and all types of courts, in terms of compliance with Indonesian law and regulations on public access to information through their websites.

“We will release the other awards called “reform awards” and “website award” is one of them”, Wahyu said.

Wahyu Widiana explains that Badilag will monitor public services and Information Desk in all Religious Courts. And the best of them will be awarded. (raj).

Chief Justice: Public Still Trusts Courts

Jakarta | badilag.net (7/6/2011)

“Public still trusts courts. More than 70% justice seekers are satisfied to services provided by courts. It is based on a survey.”, Chief Justice of the Republic of Indonesia, Dr. Harifin A. Tumpa said when he inaugurated 2 chiefs of the High Military Court, a  Junior Registrar for Religious Affairs at the Supreme Court, and 5 Substitute Registrars at the Supreme Court, Tuesday (7/6).

The statement of the Chief Justice is a response to the recent news on a bankruptcy judge from the Central Jakarta Commercial Court who was caught red-handed Wednesday night accepting bribes. 
The Chief Justice is very disappointed by the arrested judge. It stimulates various opinions from public on the recent bureaucracy reform conducted by the Supreme Court. Some says that the Supreme Court fails meanwhile the others still appreciate.

“Whereas we have endeavor to get public trust by performing some important reforms”, Harifin A. Tumpa said. “And we have made a big progress than before”, Harifin said.

Harifin said that according to the survey, people will bring their cases to courts if they have the same legal matters. “It shows that people trust courts”, Harifin said.

He explained that the Supreme Court will be strict to any bad conduct of judges. “I hope it will be the last”, he said.

In the other occasion, the spokesman of the Supreme Court, Hatta Ali, as reported by www.thejakartapost.com, explained that the suspension letter will be issued and signed by the Chief Justice on Monday.

Chief Justice Inaugurated Edi Riadi

Drs. Edi Riadi, SH., MH was officially inaugurated as the Junior Registrar for Religious Affairs in the Supreme Court, Tuesday (7/6/2011). He is a judge at the High Religious Court of Jakarta.

Harifin also inaugurated Anthon R. Saragih, SH as the Chief of High Military Court II of Jakarta and Hazarmei, S.H as the Chief of High Military Court I of Medan.

There were five Substitute Registrars at the Supreme Court inaugurated. They are Budi Prasetyo, SH., Lucas Prakoso, SH, M.Hum., Amin Safrudin, SH., MH., Febry Widjajanto, SH.MH, and Ninil Eva Yustina, SH., M.Hum. (raj).

Indonesia-Sudan to Establish Judiciary Cooperation

The Discussion on the MoU

Khartoum | badilag.net

Indonesia and Sudan have long history in terms of political relationship starting from the early period of the independence. Indonesia was the first to internationally speak out and acknowledge Sudan as an independent country through Asia-Africa Conference held in Bandung 1955. However, this old friendship does not suddenly lead to the advanced cooperation, particularly in judiciary aspect, until the rise of reformation era when Islamic economics becomes a prominent feature in Indonesian law system context.