Radicalism is a threat that Indonesia is currently facing. This understanding spreads in various sectors of life, one of which is in the campus environment. The spread of radicalism is driven by rapidly developing technological factors. Social media and the internet are the most instrumental instruments in spreading this transnational ideology. To prevent and tackle radicalism on campus, Universitas Indonesia (UI) together with the National Counterterrorism Agency (Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Terorisme, BNPT) organized a focus group discussion (FGD) with the theme “Strategies for Preventing and Combating Radical Thought on Campus”, on Thursday (24/2), at the UI Council Hall and broadcasted via Zoom.
UI Vice Rector for Academic and Student Affairs, Prof. Dr. rer. Nat. Abdul Haris, in his speech, said that radicalism can arise on campus because of the false information circulating among students. Not all information obtained can be validated. As a result, students get false information that is sometimes accepted and fully believed. “Campus residents who do not check the truth of information are usually trapped in fake news. It is this news that often creates uproar,” said Prof. Haris.
According to the Director of Learning and Student Affairs at the Ministry of Research and Technology, Dr. Ir. Kiki Yuliati, M.Sc., radical ideologies are spread on campus through various means, such as classroom teaching, student activities, and the utilization of lax academic policies on preventing radicalism. Campus is considered important because it is a place to form intellectual candidates and national leaders. The spread of radicalism on campus is projected to result in the application of radical ideology when students reach their golden years.
Efforts to prevent radicalism were also conveyed by the Sub-Directorate of Counter Propaganda of the BNPT Prevention Directorate, Colonel Sujatmiko. According to him, preventing the spread of radicalism and intolerance can be done through policies that instill a sense of love for the country and encourage tolerance between religious communities. Strategic steps are needed by the campus to prevent the cultivation of radicalism values through campus policies that accommodate all religions. Exemplary behavior from lecturers in practicing the value of religious tolerance also needs to be displayed.
UI is one of the targets for the spread of radical ideology. This was conveyed by the Head of the Terrorism Studies Program at SSGS UI, Muh. Syauqillah, Ph.D. The location of i’dad or training activities for potential terrorists was once found at UI based on the results of a court decision dealing with terrorism cases. Another piece of evidence is the religious mentoring activities by Bahrumsyah – one of ISIS’ Indonesian frontmen. This condition requires mastering social media narratives about information on religious moderation and religious organizations to spread tolerance values.
Sofyan Tsauri as a former Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) member also stated that the campus is a target of radicalism, both in terms of spreading ideology and preparing for terrorism. According to Sofyan, the spread of radicalism on campus is more easily accepted by STEM students than social humanities students. This is evidenced by the fact that the leaders of radicalism movements are predominantly science graduates. “The condition of radicalism on campus should be a reflection for the entire academic community. Through student organizations, especially campus da’wah institutions, students must reflect on the values that are spread so that radicalism can be eliminated from campus,” Sofyan said.
Sofyan’s explanation was confirmed by Ayik Heriansyah as a UI alumni and former HTI. Ayik shared his experience as a campus da’wah activist and explained the regeneration process, from recruitment, coaching, to assignment. “Cadre is carried out since the admission of new students. Students were directed to fill out forms at the faculty stand to identify their interests and talents, including religion. The form will be separated based on the history of students who have participated in mentoring in high school and students who have never participated in mentoring,” Ayik said.
To tackle radicalism on campus, UI has implemented several prevention strategies, including the development of a moderate Islamic religious learning curriculum, the purification of mosques as places to spread religion with moderate values, and the filling of campus institutions by moderate groups. Achmad Solechan as the Coordinator of Personality Development Course Islamic Religion stated that religious moderation is carried out with the synergy of various elements, namely lecturers, alumni, students, and education staff. The concept of religious moderation is instilled from the beginning of the lecture until students become alumni. This is done to create an ecosystem free of radicalism.
