The shared struggles of India, Indonesia are a chance to push for human rights at home and abroad

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo was the chief guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations on January 26. He also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is an opportunity for Asia’s two giant democracies to start working together to promote shared values on human rights.

On January 7, Indonesia also joined BRICS – the Brazil, Russia, China South Africa-led intergovernmental bloc that India is a founding member of and which seeks multilateral cooperation to promote health, education, and the “fight against poverty and social inequality”. These are crucial initiatives that should also translate into domestic policy in both countries.

President Prabowo and Modi both won divisive elections in 2024. Majoritarian politics can win votes but they split communities, often risking discrimination and violence. Both leaders now govern large, diverse populations and they urgently need to adopt policies that protect those most at risk, instead of ceding space to religious extremism.

Some Modi supporters in India want a ban on the hijab, while in Indonesia, the country with the largest Muslim population, many Prabowo supporters promote mandatory hijab regulations.

Instead of allowing extremists on either side to dictate and control what women should wear, both leaders should publicly defend the right of women to choose – and more broadly work toward protecting women and ethnic and…

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