Auditorium of Prof. Dr. Suwito, MA SPs UIN Jakarta, SPs NEWS – The Graduate School (SPs) of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta held the 1660th Doctoral Promotion Exam in the Auditorium Room of Prof. Dr. Suwito, MA on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 with promovendus Malik Ibrahim.

Malik Ibrahim is a student of the Doctoral program in Islamic Studies with a concentration in Political Science. His dissertation is entitled "Dialectic of Human Rights and Public Order in Government Policy for the Handling of Ahmadiyya Groups".

Malik highlighted how the Joint Decree (SKB) of the three ministers stands in the midst of a tug-of-war between the protection of individual rights and the stability of national security.

This qualitative research aims to remap the government's position in dealing with Ahmadiyya groups. With an evaluative approach, Malik not only looked at the legal text, but also went into the field to interview relevant government work units and Ahmadiyya groups themselves to capture the sociological reality that occurred.

One of the most striking findings in this dissertation is the assessment that the Decree is actually aligned with the eight elements of the standard of respect for human rights. Through a comparison of strict legal instruments, Malik argued that the state has tried to meet international norms despite being in a very complex social situation.

Furthermore, Malik tested the legitimacy of the restriction of rights using the Siracusa Principles and comparative criminal law frameworks. The results show that the policy meets the elements of legitimate human rights restrictions. Even so, he still gave a critical note of the existence of normative weaknesses, especially on the principle of legality related to the clarity of norms that are still considered vague.

Empirically, this study presents reassuring data: disturbances to religious freedom and public order actually decreased significantly after the issuance of the decree. The findings refute fears that the policy will only spark new friction in a pluralistic society.

Malik's theoretical contribution is no joke. He strengthened Lewis Alfred Coser's theory of conflict in the book The Functions of Social Conflict. He argues that in a society full of tension, conflict cannot be completely eliminated, but must be managed so that it does not become destructive.

In this perspective, SKB is seen as a "safety valve". This policy is designed not to oppress, but as a mechanism to channel tensions so that the escalation of violence can be suppressed, while balancing social integration with the reality of existing diversity.

Malik's view brought a breath of fresh air as well as a challenge to previous studies. He boldly positioned his findings as the antithesis of the study of Torhild Breidlid (2013) who previously considered the SKB as an inappropriate legal product in dealing with Ahmadiyah issues.

He also answered criticism from Surya Anagora and Adyatma Abdullah who doubted the legal basis of the SKB in the Indonesian legal system. For Malik, the effectiveness and legality of the SKB must be seen from its function in maintaining public order which is an integral part of the purpose of the law itself.

In fact, this dissertation provides a different perspective from the findings of Ari Ganjar who said that the effectiveness of the SKB was only temporary because it was often used as a political commodity. Malik pointed out that substantially, the SKB has a deeper role than just an electoral political tool for certain groups.

This dissertation is expected to be a reference for the government in formulating policies that are more harmonious between the protection of human rights and the maintenance of social order in the future.

Malik Ibrahim successfully defended his dissertation under the guidance of Prof. Dr. M. Atho Mudzhar, MSPD and Prof. Ismatu Ropi, MA, Ph.D, and was tested in front of a board of examiners consisting of Prof. Dr. Zulkifli, MA, Prof. Dr. M. Atho Mudzhar, MSPD, Prof. Ismatu Ropi, MA, Ph.D, Prof. Dr. Asep Usman Ismail, M.Ag, Prof. Dr. Media Zainul Bahri, MA and Prof. Dr. Idris Thaha,  M.Si.

After paying attention to the writing of the dissertation, the comments of the examiner team and the answers of the promovendus, the examiner team determined that Malik Ibrahim graduated with the title of Very Satisfactory. Malik Ibrahim is the 1660th Doctor in the field of Islamic Studies, a doctoral program at the Graduate School of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. (JA)