A discussion over Islam in Indonesia cannot marginalize the roles of preachers as well as the mass organizations. Seeking freedom of expression will be complete after we analyze the roles of mass organizations critically. For years, either Muhammadiyah or Nahdlatul Ulama has proposed and supported an idea of religious moderation. Unfortunately, the positions of those mass organizations do not have an impact, obviously.
Freedom of expression is still an acute problem faced by citizens, including Muslims themselves. In December 2023, the SETARA Institute presented a result of a survey toward freedom of expression. A recent trend of freedom of expression in Indonesia declined in 2023 compared to 2021. The data suggests mass organizations and Islamic leaders who paid attention to this issue evaluate their movements. The dissemination and implementation of freedom of expression need more evaluation.
The responsibility for freedom of expression is owned by mass organizations and religious preachers. In reality, some preachers object to freedom of expression ideas. In their view, this idea was influenced by Western tradition. They may add that in Islamic traditions, freedom of expression does not exist because human behavior is governed by Islamic teaching. I can conclude that this problem and discussion over compatibility between Islam and human rights have never ended.
Freedom of Expression: Ongoing Quest