Indonesian Parliament Members Demand to Stop Showing of Film "His Only Son"

JAKARTA, LELEMUKU.COM -  Indonesian parliamentarians have called for the screening of the film "His Only Son" to be halted. 

Deputy Chairman of the VIII Commission of the Indonesian Parliament (DPR), Ace Hasan Syadzily believes that the story in the film does not align with the Islamic version of the story of Prophet Ibrahim.

"The circulation of the film 'His Only Son' in Indonesia should be stopped or banned. The narrative of this film is full of controversy. The content of this film does not match the understanding of the history of Prophet Ibrahim (AS), which is generally believed by Muslims in Indonesia," he said in a press release on Tuesday, September 12, 2023.

The film "His Only Son," produced in the United States, was released in Indonesian theaters on August 30. The film is inspired by the story of Abraham in the Christian Bible. God tested Abraham's faith through a dream, instructing him to sacrifice his only son, Isaac (the son of Abraham and Sarah), on Mount Moriah.

According to Ace Hasan Syadzily, the film could mislead Muslims because Islam believes that Prophet Ibrahim had two sons, namely Prophet Ismail and Prophet Ishak. Ismail, the son of Ibrahim and Hajar, is not recognized in this film.

"If the circulation of this film is intended for a limited audience with specific religious beliefs, we can still understand it. But if this film circulates widely, it will lead to a misguided understanding of history according to the Islamic faith in Indonesia," Ace said.

The Golkar politician explained that Ismail is an important figure in Islam because he is considered to be the ancestor of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), the messenger of Islam.

"If the understanding portrayed in this film becomes widespread, it is essentially equivalent to negating the connection between Islamic teachings and the history of Prophet Ibrahim (AS)," Ace stated.

Therefore, Ace has requested that the film "His Only Son" be prohibited from screening in this country's theaters and banned from any platform. The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology of the Republic of Indonesia (Kominfo) should also intervene.

"As a result, I request that the relevant parties withdraw the circulation of this film from theaters in Indonesia, including various film screening media in Indonesia. I also urge Kominfo to conduct an assessment of the circulation of this film," Ace said. (Evu)

Nobel Laureate Maria Ressa's Warning on Elections and the Role of AI in Journalism

WASHINGTON, LELEMUKU.COM – Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa, editor and CEO of Rappler, a prominent news website based in Manila, issued a stark warning on the future of democracy during a gathering of journalists in Washington, D.C.

Ressa, known for her commitment to independent journalism and her battles against autocratic leaders, highlighted the pivotal role that upcoming elections, including those in Taiwan, Indonesia, and the United States in 2024, will play in determining the fate of democracy worldwide.

Ressa emphasized the importance of these elections, saying, "We’ll know whether democracy lives or dies by the end of 2024." She expressed concerns about the rise of illiberal leaders being elected democratically, citing a Swedish study indicating that 72% of the world's population lives under authoritarian rule. Ressa cautioned that without the integrity of facts, elections cannot maintain their integrity.

The editor also discussed the troubling trend of autocrats using social media to consolidate power. Ressa's own experience at Rappler, which faced the ire of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte due to its critical coverage of his administration's controversial war on drugs, exemplifies the risks journalists face when holding leaders accountable.

In January, a Manila court acquitted Ressa of tax evasion charges, but she is currently appealing a cyber-libel conviction. Despite these challenges, she remains a staunch advocate for the role of journalism in safeguarding democracy.

Ressa acknowledged the use of artificial intelligence (AI) at Rappler during the 2022 Philippine presidential campaign, where the news outlet utilized generative AI to create biographies for the 18,000 candidates running for various offices. While Rappler's researchers ensured the accuracy of the information generated by AI, it demonstrated the potential of technology in enhancing journalism's capabilities.

Regarding social media's impact on elections, Ressa discussed the use of AI to mitigate concerns about false information. Rappler adopted AI measures to ensure the data used was within specified parameters, reducing the potential for misinformation.

Maria Ressa's Nobel Prize win in December 2021 was accompanied by her critique of the "toxic sludge" of disinformation propagated by social media platforms. She called for greater efforts to combat the hate and disinformation that undermines serious journalism and polarizes public discourse.

Ressa's commitment to upholding the principles of journalism and democracy remains steadfast. She continues to advocate for the protection of citizens' rights to privacy, condemning abuses against the free press, and proposing legislation to ban surveillance advertising. Additionally, Ressa has called for measures to protect media freedom and the appointment of a UN special envoy focused on the safety of journalists.

As the world grapples with the challenges posed by disinformation and authoritarianism, Maria Ressa's warning serves as a call to action for journalists, democracies, and tech companies to work collectively to safeguard the integrity of elections and the future of democracy. (Benar News)

ASEAN Unity and Challenges in Focus at 2023 Summit

JAKARTA, LELEMUKU.COM – Amid growing concerns about the effectiveness and unity of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, the current chair of the regional bloc, affirmed its continued unity during the three-day ASEAN summit held in Jakarta on September 7, 2023.

President Jokowi addressed questions and criticisms surrounding ASEAN's ability to address regional challenges, particularly the Myanmar crisis and territorial disputes in the South China Sea. He emphasized that while there may be differences of opinion among member states, ASEAN's unity remains intact.

"Lately, I’ve been hearing questions related to ASEAN: will ASEAN break up and not be able to unite? Can the ASEAN ship keep sailing?" President Jokowi stated at the summit's opening. "As a family member and as the chair of ASEAN, I want to affirm that ASEAN’s unity is still well maintained. Unity does not mean there is no difference of opinion."

One of the major concerns has been the handling of the Myanmar crisis. ASEAN previously agreed on a five-point plan to address the situation, including ending violence, starting dialogue, providing humanitarian aid, appointing a special envoy, and having the envoy visit Myanmar. However, the Burmese junta has not cooperated, leading to frustration among member states.

President Jokowi urged continued efforts to implement the five-point consensus, emphasizing the need for "tactical and extraordinary efforts." Despite Indonesia's engagement with stakeholders in Myanmar, there has been limited progress in resolving the crisis.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi acknowledged the complexity of the Myanmar crisis, stating that it was "very difficult, very complicated, and not easy to solve." To address the situation, ASEAN leaders have agreed to form a troika consisting of the current, previous, and incoming chairs of the regional bloc. This troika will include Cambodia, Indonesia, and Laos.

The Philippines also expressed its willingness to replace Myanmar as the rotating chair of ASEAN in 2026. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. affirmed the country's commitment to strengthening ASEAN's foundations and community-building.

Malaysia, a vocal critic of the Burmese junta, is set to assume the ASEAN chair in 2025. Malaysian Foreign Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir expressed frustration at the junta's failure to adhere to the five-point consensus. He suggested that ASEAN leaders may need to review the plan.

However, not all experts are convinced of the effectiveness of the five-point initiative. Dinna Prapto Raharja, an international relations lecturer at Paramadina University in Jakarta, criticized Indonesia's lack of a clear strategy and the initiative's lack of direction. She also questioned President Jokowi's assertion of ASEAN's unity, pointing out that the region appears divided on key issues.

Another analyst, Muhammad Waffaa Kharisma from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Jakarta, expressed uncertainty about what President Jokowi meant by "extraordinary efforts" to implement the consensus, suggesting that it may be more of a hopeful term than a concrete strategy.

Meanwhile, the issue of the disputed South China Sea was raised by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during the summit. He emphasized the importance of managing the dispute peacefully and in accordance with international law, particularly in light of a recent controversial map released by China. The map, which claims most of the South China Sea, has drawn objections from ASEAN members and Taiwan.

The three-day ASEAN meetings also include talks between the bloc and dialogue partners at the East Asia Summit, with prominent leaders from the United States, Canada, Japan, China, and Russia scheduled to attend.

As the summit progresses, regional observers and stakeholders will closely watch for concrete actions to address the Myanmar crisis and navigate other pressing regional challenges. The unity and effectiveness of ASEAN remain essential for stability and cooperation in Southeast Asia. (Benar News)