'Real Islam' in action in Indonesia:

The Religious Courts Are Agents of Reform.

by Tim Lindsey and Cate Sumner*

http://www.theaustralian.com.au|

AS part of his continuing efforts to engage with the Islamic world, US President Barack Obama recently revisited Indonesia, a country he knows more about than most world leaders.
Living in Indonesia as a boy from 1967 to 1971, "Barry", as he was known, experienced first-hand the complex diversity of what is now the world's third-largest democracy and its largest Muslim society. He knows this country can so often confound the lazy assumptions of casual observers.

All Judges Must Master The Court Administration

Bandung | badilag.net

“I suggest that all High Religious Courts make a routine discussion on marriage matters. And the matters must be discussed not only in divine perspective but also reason one”, Vice Chief Justice for Non Judicial Matters, Ahmad Kamil said in a training on court administration in Bandung (24/5/2011). The training was held by the Directorate General of the Religious Court from 24 until 28 of May 2011.

Some keynote speakers in this training are the Deputy Chief Justice for the Religious Court Affairs, Andi Syamsu Alam, the Secretary of the Supre Court, Rum Nessa, the Director General of Badilag, Wahyu Widiana, the Vice Chief of the High Religious Court of Jakarta, Zainuddin Fajari, and a judge at the High Religious Court of Jakarta, Edi Riadi.

The Religious Court of South Jakarta Makes A Great Innovation

Jakarta, badilag.net

The Religious Court of South Jakarta makes some important innovations. It is aimed to provide the excellent service to people. Among the innovations made are Call Center or SMS Gateway, Information Desk, and Queue System.

Through Call Service or SMS Gateway, the justice seekers will be able to obtain some information on their case progress. The service provide them on number of cases, identity of parties, judge panel, and court session schedule, as well as remain of down payment.

It also facilitates them to get the information they need from any where they are. They should not go directly to the Religious Court.

To Avoid Case Backlogs Becomes The Main Priority

Wahyu Widiana explained on reform program in Makassar

Jakarta, Badiilag.net

After attending an urgent meeting in the Supreme Court 3-4 of May, the Director General of the Religious Courts, Wahyu Widiana and his colleagues create a team called “Monitoring Team for Prioritized Reform Programs”.

The team consists of some potential young officials working in the Directorate General of the Religious Courts. The main task of the team is to monitor some important reform programs in the Religious Courts.

The prioritized reform programs are case settlement, court administration and case management, human resources management, public service, information desk, legal aid post, circuit court and prodeo cases (waiving court fees) and website development.

The Director General of the Religious Courts, Wahyu Widiana explained that the monitoring will stimulate all Religious Courts to pay their great attention to the reform programs.

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.