Bridging Acceptance

Indonesia is a uniquely diverse country with countless beliefs and hundreds of ethnicities. Its slogan, Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, or Unity in Diversity, perfectly summarizes the archipelago's pluralist ideal. Over the past few years, however, religious intolerance has been on the rise. According to the National Commission on Human Rights, 87 cases of intolerance were filed through the agency in 2015. The following year, the number rose to nearly 100 cases. Some pesantrens (Islamic boarding schools) are trying to curb intolerance by incorporating pluralist views in their teachings. The Bali Bina Insani Islamic School has 16 non-Muslim teachers. Meanwhile, students of the Sabilul Hasanah Islamic School in the Banyuasin Regency use film to highlight pluralism. In the spirit of Idul Fitri, Tempo English reports.