Lukman Hakim Saifuddin | |
---|---|
Minister of Religious Affairs | |
In office 27 October 2014 – Incumbent |
|
President | Joko Widodo |
Preceded by | Suryadharma Ali |
Personal details | |
Born | 25 November 1962 Jakarta, Indonesia |
Citizenship | Indonesian |
Political party | United Development Party |
Spouse(s) | Trisna Willy |
Alma mater | Universitas Islam As-Syafiiyah |
Lukman Hakim Saifuddin is an Indonesian politician and Muslim scholar as well as the current Minister of Religious Affairs in the Working Cabinet of President Joko Widodo.
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. Also unlike Ali, Saifuddin has indicated a willingness as Religious Affairs Minister to extend recognition to the Bahá'í Faith, a minority group in the country. Saifuddin also participated with Indonesian Buddhists in a joint prayer in Medan in November 2016. 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.
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.