Declaration of Islamic Researcher Forum

Declaration of Islamic Researcher Forum

FISIP,  UIN NEWS Online—The Center for Islamic Studies and Society (PPIM) of UIN Jakarta along with the participants of The 2nd Studia Islamic International Conference 2017 from various research institutes and universities initiate the formation of Islamic academic forum of Southeast Asian region (Southeast Asia Islamic Association for Islamic Studies / SEAFIS). The Forum is expected to accommodate the flow of thoughts and experiences of Southeast Asian communities and Muslims from different regions.

Initiation of the forum itself was read directly by the Secretary of PPIM Advisory Board UIN Jakarta, Prof. Dr. Jamhari Makruf, at FISIP Building, Thursday (08/10/2017). The reading was delivered directly to the participants who were also the speakers and responders at the conference. "This forum will be a forum for exchange of thoughts and experiences of Islamic scholars and Muslims in Southeast Asia," he said.

As part of a global academic entity, it is clear that the Professor of Anthropology of the Faculty of Dakwah and Communication Sciences of UIN Jakarta, Islamic researchers and the Islamic Society of Southeast Asia need to speak more in the world's academic forums. In addition, the forum is also expected to facilitate the emergence of researchers from Southeast Asia itself in explaining the social dynamics, politics, and cultural community of the region to the wider public.

"During this time, the study of Islam and Muslim society more in the Middle East and outside Southeast Asia. If any study of Southeast Asia, the number is still not too significant," he said again.

Separately, Jajang Jahroni Ph.D, who is the Chairman of the Conference Executive, added that the initiative of the Islamic research forums formation in Southeast Asia becomes important for the future of research in this region. Also, its formation is also expected to break the attitude of the global public eye of Islamic research and society in various approaches.

“The forum is expected to strengthen the network of fellow Islamic researchers and Southeast Asian communities with Islam as a research core in a broader context such as its encounter with Buddhism and other local religions," he explained.

Later, the graduate from Department of anthropology Boston University continued, this forum will be formed with the structure and consists of academics that have been paying great attention to Islamic research and Southeast Asian communities such as Prof. Dr. Azyumardi Azra MA CBE. As known, Azra wrote a considerable doctoral research for the attention of Islamic studies in the region, namely The Origins of Islamic Reformism in Southeast Asia: Networks of Malay-Indonesian and Middle Eastern 'Ulama' in the 17th and 18th Centuries (ASAA-Allen & Unwin and University of Hawai'i Press, 2004).

“Later, the membership of this institution will be open to anyone who has a concern about Islam and Southeast Asian Society "he concluded.

Meanwhile, the 2nd Studia Islamika International Conference 2017 officially closed after accommodating 83 papers presentation of researchers from various research institutes and universities of various countries. The conference themed Southeast Asian Islam: Religious Radicalism, Democracy, and Global Trends sendiri menghadirkan tiga pembicara utama, yakni direktur pada Center for Buddhist-Muslim Understanding pada College of Religious Studies, Mahidol University, Thailand Prof. Dr. Imtiyaz Yusuf, Director of Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict Dr Sidney Jones, and Commissionaire of OIC Independent Permanent Human Rights Commissions Dr Siti Ruhaini Dzuhayatin. (usa)