
Dr. Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat
Dr. Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat is the Director of the Indonesia-MENA Desk at the Centre for Economic and Law Studies (CELIOS) in Jakarta and a Research Affiliate at the Middle East Institute, National University of Singapore. He spent over a decade living and traveling across the Middle East, earning a B.A. in International Affairs from Qatar University. He later completed his M.A. in International Politics and Ph.D. in Politics at the University of Manchester.
Items by Dr. Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat
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- May 10, 2025 Dr. Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat
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,...
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- May 2, 2025 Dr. Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat
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...
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- April 23, 2025 Dr. Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat
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...
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- April 20, 2025 Dr. Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat
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...
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- April 17, 2025 Dr. Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat
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...
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- April 15, 2025 Dr. Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat
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...
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- April 11, 2025 Dr. Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat
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...
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- April 8, 2025 Dr. Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat
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...
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- April 7, 2025 Dr. Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat
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...
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- March 27, 2025 Dr. Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat
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...