Religion & Society

While the countries of Europe are facing an immigration crisis, with unprecedented numbers of refugees being shipped by people smugglers on rickety boats across the Mediterranean – with many drowning in the process – Australia is at the opposite end of the curve, having stemmed the flow of boatpeople in the last two years. However, the debate rages on around issues of ethics. The 15 years since the turn of the millennium have seen the refugee pendulum swing wildly, largely determined by different immigration policies held by the main political parties in Australia. In 2000, the conservative coalition government led by Prime Minister John Howard faced increasing numbers of refugee boats reaching Australia’s shores without government approval. Pacific Solution There was widespread concern in the Australian community for several reasons. First , such boat arrivals attracted much opposition in the community at large. Second , failure to address this phenomenon allowed people smuggli...

NEWS ITEM: Indonesia’s Constitutional Court recently rejected a request for a judicial review of Article 2 of the 1974 Marriage Law, which effectively forbids interfaith marriage. I lived in Indonesia for several years during the 1980s, and have travelled back regularly to the country since that time. The period of the 1980s was characterised by comparatively relaxed relations between the faiths. Overt expressions of faith were not so pronounced as they are today. At the time few Muslim women in professional or academic positions wore Muslim head-covering. Conversions between the faiths, especially from Islam to Christianity and vice versa, were in evidence and did not attract much comment. Moreover, I witnessed a number of interfaith marriages among colleagues and in the broader community. At the time, interfaith marriage seemed to be almost a non-issue. Today the religious scene in Indonesia is very different. In offices, and in the street, the jilbab headcovering for Muslim ...