Courting Reform: Indonesia's Islamic Courts and Justice for the Poor

Abstract

Western perceptions of Islam in Indonesia are often dominated by images of radical minorities seeking a shari'ah state. In reality, however, mainstream Islamic institutions have played an important part in the post-Soeharto process of democratization and institutional reform. Among them are Indonesia's Islamic courts, the Pengadilan Agama or Religious Courts. In a ground-breaking new Lowy Institute Paper Cate Sumner and Tim Lindsey explore how the Islamic courts have embraced reform within a judicial system notorious for corruption and incompetence, taking the lead in efforts to deliver decisions that are more accessible, transparent and fair, especially for women and the poor.