FAH UIN Jakarta Holds ICCLAS 2017

FAH, UIN News Online – Faculty of Adab and Humanities (FAH) held International Conference on Culture and Language in Southeast Asia (ICCLAS) with the theme of Islam and Identity of Southeast Asian Languages and Cultures, Tuesday-Wednesday (11/14-15), at FAH Meeting Room, campus III of UIN Jakarta.

The event was opened by the Rector of UIN Jakarta Prof Dr Dede Rosyada MA, Tuesday (11/14), also present in the opening event, Prof. Arskal Salim GP MA as the head of LP2M UIN Jakarta, Prof. Dr. Syukron Kamil MA as Dean of FAH UIN Jakarta, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Suad Binti Awwab from University of Malaysia, Asooc Prof. Dr. Chiara Formichi from Cornell University USA, Dr. Matthew Piscioneri from Monash University Australia, as well as civitas academica of FAH UIN Jakarta.

Dr Moch Syarif Hidayatullah as the conference convenor revealed that the series of ICCLAS activities will be filled with several parallel discussion sessions and International Seminar. “Some of our speakers are invited from Malaysia, USA, Australia, Singapore, and Indonesia. The focus of this activity is on how Islam becomes a cultural and linguistic identity in Southeast Asia,” he said.

Rector in his speech said that the Islamic dispersion in Southeast Asia was done peacefully, in contrast to the expansion of Islam in many parts of the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa.

“Based on Islamic sources in the Middle East, the Islamic dispersion is called fath, the liberation, which often involves military force. Regarding the arrival of Islam in Southeast Asian countries is almost preceded by interactions between communities in the archipelago with Arab, Indian, Bengal, Chinese, Gujarat, Iran, Yemen and South Arabia traders,” said Rector.

On the same occasion, Dean of FAH UIN Jakarta Syukron Kamil revealed that Islam entered Southeast Asia for centuries. The entry of Islam combined with the local culture has caused Islam in Southeast Asia to be so diverse.

“Because of the more tolerant attitude, the dispersion of Islam in Southeast Asia is growing safely. And now, Islam became the religion of the majority and cultural identity symbol in Southeast Asia,” he said.

The event followed by at least 150 participants is running smoothly. This is due to the enthusiasm of the participants in following the event, they even threw some questions to the speakers. (usa)