Lukman Hakim Saifuddin

Lukman Hakim Saifuddin
22nd Minister of Religious Affairs of Indonesia
In office
9 June 2014 – 20 October 2019
PresidentSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Joko Widodo
Preceded bySuryadharma Ali
Agung Laksono (acting)
Succeeded byFachrul Razi
Member of the People's Representative
Council
In office
1 October 1997 – 8 June 2014
Personal details
Born (1962-11-25) 25 November 1962 (age 61)
Jakarta, Indonesia
CitizenshipIndonesian
Political partyUnited Development Party
SpouseTrisna Willy
RelationsK. H. Saifuddin Zuhri (Father)
ChildrenNaufal Zilal Kemal
Zahira Humaira
Sabilla Salsabila
ResidenceIndonesia
Alma materUniversitas Islam As-Syafiiyah
ProfessionPolitician
CabinetSecond United Indonesia Cabinet
Working Cabinet

Lukman Hakim Saifuddin (born 25 November 1962) is an Indonesian politician and Muslim scholar who was the Minister of Religious Affairs in the Second United Indonesia Cabinet of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Working Cabinet of President Joko Widodo.[1]

Saifuddin is considered more moderate than his predecessor, Suryadharma Ali. As former party whip of the United Development Party (PPP) in the People's Representative Council, Saifuddin pulled the PPP closer to the political center.[2] Also unlike Ali, Saifuddin has indicated a willingness as Religious Affairs Minister to extend recognition to the Baháʼí Faith, a minority group in the country.[2] Saifuddin also participated with Indonesian Buddhists in a joint prayer in Medan in November 2016.[3] Conversely, he also urged Muslims in Indonesia to pray for the Rohingya minority in Myanmar in reaction to the 2016 Rohingya persecution in Myanmar, and stated that the Government of Indonesia was monitoring the situation.[4]

Saifuddin also cautioned against follow-up protests to the November 2016 Jakarta protests against the Christian governor of Jakarta accused of blasphemy, stating that formal charges had been brought to a court of law and that there was no justification for further protests.[5][6]

  1. ^ MUI edict on Christmas imbues spirit of tolerance: Minister. Jakarta Post, 16 December 2016. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  2. ^ a b Alexander R. Arifianto, Indonesian Islamic Parties After the 2014 Elections. Taken from ISEAS Perspective: Watching the Indonesian Elections 2014, pg. 129. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 2015. ISBN 9789814620833
  3. ^ Apriadi Gunawan, Buddhists pray for peace, tolerance in Indonesia . Jakarta Post, 19 November 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  4. ^ Kyaw Ye Lynn, Myanmar: 820 Rohingya structures razed in just 8 days. Andalou Agency, 21 November 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  5. ^ Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Agnes Anya and Nurul Fitri Ramadhani, Cops talk tough on Dec. 2 rally. Jakarta Post, 22 November 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  6. ^ Istman M. P., Religious Affairs Minister: No More Rallies after Today. Tempo, 2 December 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2016.