Protection of Freedom of Religion in Islamic Law in Secular Turkey and Its Relevance for Indonesia
Keywords:
Freedom of religion; Indonesia; Islamic law; Secular state; Turkey.Abstract
This study aims to explore further the protection of religious freedom in the context of secular countries such as Turkey and to analyse the relevance of this experience for Indonesia, which has its own religious and cultural complexities. This qualitative study uses a descriptive-analytical approach that focuses on document analysis and literature review involving hermeneutic interpretation that describes the content of regulations and policies and examines the socio-political context behind them to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of religious freedom protection. The findings indicate that Turkey's experience in protecting religious freedom under Islamic law in a secular state demonstrates that genuine protection of religious rights is not sufficient through formal guarantees or state neutrality on paper alone, but must be realised through the courage of legal institutions to open spaces for dialogue, recognition of diverse interpretations, and tangible protection for minorities and vulnerable groups from pressure by the majority or political interests. The relevance for Indonesia is the need to avoid the trap of extreme secularism that restricts religious expression or identity politics, which in turn threatens pluralism. This can be achieved by strengthening the state's role as a protector of substantive justice, not merely as a formal arbiter or servant of the majority.
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