Pluralism, fatwā, and court in Indonesia: The case of Yusman Roy

The interrelation between Islam, state and pluralism is an unfinished discussion in Indonesia. This paper examines an issue of promoting individual freedom to practice his/her belief, and at the same time not insulting the majority belief in a plural society. It takes the case of Yusman Roy on performing the salāh (prayer) in a local language as the subject of analysis in order to identify the fault lines of religion and pluralism, and to consider how best to address them. The paper argues that fatwā and court should not be used as mechanisms to deal with the issue of religion and pluralism. It further argues for an "alternative dispute resolution" in dealing with the plurality of interpretation within Islamic tradition and at the same time maintaining the unity and harmony Islamic communities. It maintains that Roy should have the rights to practice what he believes, but at the same time, a negotiation on how he spreads his ideas outside his schools should take place in order to avoid provocative actions that invite violence.