CENTER FOR PESANTREN AND DEMOCRACY STUDIES

(CePDeS)

CePDeS came into existence in response to an ardent desire for the birth of progressive, open-minded and tolerant Muslim leaders who can materialize Islamic teachings on humanity and its values of freedom, justice, and equality.

In their centuries of existence, the pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) have shown their specific natures of adaptability and adjustment to local cultures, their commitment and integrity in balancing rituals with spiritual and humanitarian values, their tolerance of differences in ethnic, religious, and social strata backgrounds, and their consistence in uplifting moderation, simple living, and sincerity (ikhlas) in religiosity.

Pesantrens, even a sub-culture of its own, cannot disassociate themselves from the larger context including the global context. Various socio, economic and political factors have influenced the course of their lives. Many of them have adjusted to the ‘new, modern’ worlds, but many others become marginalized and unable to survive. Many remain alive, modestly.

In the current fast changing and materially oriented world, and in the face of religious politization, pesantrens seem unable to cope with these outside challenges. Pesantrens need to be more open to working with the outside world to create synergies in attaining their vision as a socio-religious institution. CePDeS was born for this purpose.

Vision

CePDeS envisions the birth of progressive, open minded and tolerant Muslims who can materialize the Islamic values of democracy, freedom, equality and justice.

Mission

To empower the pesantrens as a social transformation agent by creating synergies in working towards democratic societies of Indonesia that respect human dignity and human rights.

Strategies

1. Institutional capacity building

2.   Democracy and human rights education

3.   Publication of progressive Islam and democracy related materials

Activities undertaken so far

Strategy 1: Institutional Capacity Building

• Pre-Strategic Planning Workshop at Hotel Cemara Jakarta 11 January 2003 with six resource persons, i.e. Prof. Komaruddin Hidayat, Lies Marcoes, Zuhairi Misrawi, DR. Jamhari Makruf, Syafiq Hasyim, and DR. Nur Rofiah. The workshop identified issues related to democracy and pesantren and alternative strategies. Topics presented included opportunities and challenges of pesantren, Islamic radicalism, tolerance and religious pluralism, and gender. The workshop outcome was used as inputs for CePDeS Strategic Planning.
• Strategic Planning Workshop held on January 31 – February 5, 2003 at Wisma Hotel Air Panas. Songgoriti Malang, East Java. Forty participants representing CePDeS, pesantren leaders, activists, and kyais/nyais gathered to enhance their management and leadership knowledge and insights, and to identify strategic issues faced by pesantren in exercising their roles as a social transformation agent toward democratic society. CePDeS strategic plan was developed during the workshop as guidelines for the organization’s activities for the coming three years.
• Workshop on “Visionary Leadership for Viilage Leaders” in cooperation with the Institute Ke-Islaman Hasyim Asyari (IKAHA) on 14-15 February 2003. Participants consisted of Village Heads, Village Representation Board (BPD) leaders, and informal leaders. The workshop was attended by Counselor of Public Affairs, the US Embassy Jakarta, Ms, Greta Morris who shared perspective about democracy in the US, and DR Kobayashi Yasuko, a researcher from Japan who shared about democracy in Japan.

Strategy 2: Democracy and Human Rights Education

• Workshop on “Pesantren, Hijrah, and Social Dynamics” held on February 14, 2003 coinciding with Islamic New Year of Muharram 1, 1424. The Islamic New Year’s momentum was utilized to revive the spirit and dynamics of pesantrsns to keep up with current issues and become more concerned with social transformation.
• Monthly Khalaqoh [seminar] on Transformative Islam attended by senior santris, activists, and university students on topics related to Isfarn, democracy, human rights, and other contemporary issues. Topics already discussed include among others Contextualizing Islam, Traditional versus Modernist Fiqh. Enhancing fhe Culture of Tolerance in Pesantren, Pesantrens and their Challenges, and Promoting Gender Justice in Pesantren.
• Regional seminar on “Pesantren amidst Radicalism and Terrorism” on October 16, 2003 with foreign resource persons: DR Nelly van Doom Harder and Father Dag Kaspersen from the Oslo Coalition. Ms. Chloe Olivier from the Australia Volunteers International (AVI).
• Voter Education Campaigns for Pesantren and Grassroots Communities held for the 2004 Legislative Elections.
• Participation in the “South-South Project on Religion, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights” where CePDeS representative gave presentation in the Workshop in Santiago, Chile on June 23-27, 2003. This project also produced a book entitled Dari Syariat Menuju Maqosid Syariat, pamphlets and brochures, and held a seminar in Jakarta in August 2003.
• Development of training modules on Islam and Human Rights as part of the fellowship with the Emory University School of Law under the Islam and Human Rights Program.

Strategy 3: Publication of progressive Islam and democracy related materials

• Publication of the AL HANIF Bulletin which comes out bilingually in Indonesian and English. With its motto ”Building Bridge Between Islam and Modernity” the Bulletin is aimed at disseminating knowledge and information on contemporary issues in Islamic discourse such as democracy, religious tolerance and pluralism, human rights, women’s rights, gender, etc.

Funding sources

CePDeS has been generously supported by its funding partners i.e. Yayasan Tifa, the US Embassy in Jakarta, Ford Foundation, The Asia Foundation, Oslo Coalition for Freedom of Faiths, UNDP, Emory University, and Valparaiso University, in addition to the mobilization of local resources.

Legal status

CePDeS is registered at the State Court of Jombang under Notary Public Bazron Humam, Jalan Wahid Hasyim 131, Tel. 0321-861903 Jombang, number 10/2003/LL dated February 19, 2003.