Bekasi, NU Online Alimat Secretary General Hj Maria Ulfah Anshor said that the Alimat movement was established in response to the prevalence of violence against women. Violence occurs as a result of unequal relations between men and women in Indonesian families, which is caused by many factors.
“One of the significant factors is the family legal system and cultural constructs that still do not treat men and women fairly and equally. This is what led to the establishment of Alimat,” Maria told NU Online in Room Sanggabuana 3, Hotel Santika Premiere, Jl Harapan Indah Boulevard No. 10-12 Medan Satria, Bekasi, West Java, on Wednesday (16/12).
The second Alimat Congress, themed “Realizing a Just and Dignified Muslim Family,” she continued, actually originated from the high incidence of domestic violence. “Our solution focuses on strengthening one’s mindset. At the same time, we provide alternatives, including arguments sourced from religion as well as policies or other texts,” said Maria.
According to Maria, Alimat, whose name originates from the Arabic word meaning “wise woman,” is not limited to religious matters alone. “The term ‘ulama’ does not refer solely to religious scholars. Alimat brings together religious scholars with experts from other disciplines. This perspective is integral to the analysis conducted by Alimat. It serves as the binding force for this movement,” she elaborated.
When asked about the differences between Alimat and Fatayat, Muslimat, Nasyiatul Aisyiah, and others, the former Chairperson of PP Fatayat NU emphasized that they are organizations bound by membership and organizational structures. “In Alimat, it’s more fluid. Because the movement is not tied to a single institution. It’s the sense of community we build here,” she stressed.
Maria noted that the foundation of understanding and movement within civil society organizations appears insufficiently comprehensive. In contrast, Alimat combines action and reflection, alongside strengthening the discourse itself. “Here, there are individuals and institutions. Regardless of their backgrounds, as long as we share a common vision, we can collaborate,” she stated.
This member of the KPAI for the 2014-2017 period emphasized that Alimat is not a civil society organization, but rather a movement. “We are not a civil society organization, but a movement. Therefore, anyone can join as long as they share the same vision and have the same concerns, especially regarding issues related to women’s justice within the family,” Maria stated.
In the five years since Alimat was founded in 2009, Maria and other board members have organized seminars and workshops on women’s empowerment. “We have also published a guidebook on justice within the family. We did this in collaboration with PEKKA, a progressive partner of Alimat,” Maria revealed.
Present as speakers were KH Husein Muhammad and a representative from the Malaysian Women’s Organization. In addition to several Alimat partners, gender movement figures such as Helmi Ali and MM Billah were also present at the event. Alimat’s partners include Rahima, the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan), PEKKA (Empowerment of Women Heads of Households), Fahmina Institute, Fatayat NU, Nasyiatul Aisyiyah, Aisyiyah, and KPI (Indonesian Women’s Coalition). (Musthofa Asrori/Fathoni) Photo: Alimat Secretary-General Hj Maria Ulfah Anshor speaking at a seminar ahead of the Second Alimat Congress at the Santika Hotel in Bekasi, West Java, on Wednesday (16/12).
Source: NU Online