Creating new perspectives since 2009
Items by Dr. Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat
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ASEAN’s statement on the Middle East is complicity in disguise
By issuing a cautious, measured statement on the recent Israel–Iran war, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has once again chosen rhetorical neutrality over moral clarity. On 26 June, its foreign ministers expressed vague “concern,” called for de-escalation, and offered generic support for the United Nations. But nowhere in…
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Indonesia at the OIC meeting on Iran-Israel war: A step forward, but not bold enough
Indonesia’s participation at the 51st Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Istanbul last weekend was a necessary step in articulating its stance on the escalating Iran-Israel war. Foreign Minister Sugiono delivered strong statements condemning Israel’s reckless military aggression—not just its illegal attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, but…
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Indonesia in the crossfire: Israel-Iran conflict and Western hypocrisy
Indonesia is being affected today not because of its own conflicts, but because of a war ignited thousands of miles away, rooted in Israel’s relentless warmongering policies. The current Iran-Israel confrontation, which is now destabilising global oil markets and creating economic uncertainty in Indonesia, should serve as a stark reminder:…
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The global march to Gaza: Indonesia and Egypt
This week, ten Indonesian citizens — among them celebrities like Wanda Hamidah, Zaskia Adya Mecca, and Ratna Galih — landed in Cairo, not for a political summit, but to join the Global March to Gaza. They came bearing no weapons, no agendas, only the unyielding conviction that humanity must speak…
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Indonesia shouldn’t trade Palestine for OECD membership
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto recently signaled that the country may consider recognizing Israel—if Israel, in turn, recognizes Palestinian statehood. The remarks, made during talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, surprised many. Yet they closely reflect Indonesia’s broader strategic ambition: to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). For…
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The Palestine Question at the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit
At the 2025 ASEAN-GCC-China Summit in Kuala Lumpur, leaders from Asia and the Arab world gathered under the glow of diplomatic language and cautious optimism. The joint statement from the summit acknowledged key developments concerning Palestine — including the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion deeming Israel’s occupation unlawful, and…
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President Prabowo is wrong: The two-state illusion must end
In a recent statement, Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto declared his government’s willingness to recognize Israel—if Palestine is recognized as an independent state. He reaffirmed what has become a tired refrain in international diplomacy: that the only path to peace in the region lies in the so-called “two-state solution.” But with…
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Jakarta’s May PUIC Summit Spoke for Palestine. What Comes Next?
This month in Jakarta, as Israeli bombs continued to devastate Gaza, more than 400 lawmakers from across the Muslim world gathered for the 19th Conference of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States (PUIC). The timing could not have been more urgent. For Palestinians, it was another chapter in…
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Indonesia cannot claim solidarity with Palestine while partnering with BlackRock
In a nation where political leaders proudly invoke the spirit of anti-colonialism, and where support for Palestine is a deeply held conviction across ideological lines, Indonesia now stands at a moral crossroads. Recent reports confirm that the Indonesian sovereign wealth fund, Danantara, is courting cooperation with BlackRock, the world’s largest…
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I have never supported IS: Singapore’s allegation is deeply misguided
On May 15, 2025, Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) responded publicly to my earlier opinion piece, in which I described being subjected to interrogation at Changi Airport on two separate occasions in 2023. Rather than addressing the concerns I raised about academic freedom and the treatment of scholars in…
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I was interrogated in Singapore twice for writing about Palestine
In 2023, I experienced something I never expected in a country like Singapore. Not once, but twice, I was detained and interrogated at Changi Airport—not for breaking any law, not for carrying suspicious items, but for my work as an academic and journalist who writes on Middle Eastern affairs, especially…
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Why Indonesians rally more for Gaza than Xinjiang
Indonesians have shown overwhelming solidarity with the Palestinian people. From massive demonstrations to donation drives and viral social media campaigns, the public response to Israel’s attacks on Gaza has been emotional, urgent, and consistent. Yet, in stark contrast, the plight of Uyghur Muslims in China’s Xinjiang region has not sparked…
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A senior Indonesian parliamentary official speaks for Gaza, but more needs to be done
The Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) Puan Maharani spoke at the inter-parliamentary forum in Istanbul recently and delivered a powerful message about Indonesia’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause. The forum, organised by the Group of Parliaments in Support of Palestine, gathered lawmakers from around the world…
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Indonesia should not allow its citizens to study in Israel
In recent years, a small but notable number of Indonesian students have traveled to Israel to pursue educational programs, including at the Arava International Center for Agricultural Training (AICAT), the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, and even Ariel University, located in an illegal Israeli settlement in the occupied West…
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Saudi Arabia should rethink its mining investments in Indonesia, and invest in renewables instead
In an era when the world must transition swiftly towards a green economy, Saudi Arabia’s decision to double down on investments in Indonesia’s mining sector seems less like strategic foresight and more like a misstep from a bygone industrial playbook. This week, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources,…
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Indonesia’s Cairo gambit: A strategic pivot towards the Middle East
When Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto stood beside his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi at Al-Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo on Saturday, the joint declaration they signed marked more than a diplomatic formality; it signalled the rebirth of a transcontinental bond, anchored in history, redefined by pragmatism, and sharpened by today’s geopolitical…
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Indonesia’s UAE gamble on Palestine is misguided
Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto’s visit to Abu Dhabi this week and his overture to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to find solutions to the Palestinian genocide raise serious ethical and strategic questions. While diplomacy and global partnerships are central to Indonesia’s foreign policy identity, the choice of partner and the…
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Indonesia must go beyond aid in Palestine
As Gaza endures another round of Israeli bombardment and the latest ceasefire lies in ruins, the urgency for global action intensifies. Civilians are once again caught in the crossfire, infrastructure lies in rubble, and the death toll mounts. For all the world’s expressions of concern, the suffering persists. At this…
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Trump’s tariffs should push Indonesia closer to the Middle East
Having Donald Trump back in the White House has set off a new wave of economic nationalism, and Indonesia is among its first casualties. In his latest protectionist move, Trump has imposed tariffs of up to 32 per cent on key Indonesian exports, from textiles and electronics to seafood and…
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Indonesia and Syria: Time to forge a new partnership under Ahmad Al Sharaa’s leadership
Indonesia has remained relatively quiet on Syria’s new leadership, but it must now take a clear stance. With Syria under the new leadership of President Ahmad Al Sharaa, Indonesia has an opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations, while navigating the complexities of this political transition. On 8 December, Bashar Al-Assad’s long-standing…