Perda Bernuansa Agama: Aspirasi atau Komoditas? Tinjauan atas Perda Ramadhan di Kota Pasuruan: Religious-Nuanced Regional Regulation: Aspiration or Commodity? A Review of the Ramadan Regulation in Pasuruan City - Khoirul Faizin (Fenomena, 2008)
The proliferation of religiously nuanced local regulations in post-reform Indonesia has raised concerns over discrimination and the neglect of minority rights, while proponents view them as a strategy to formalize sharia through local channels. This study aims to uncover the background, content, and responses to the Ramadan by-law in Pasuruan City, and to assess whether it reflects public aspiration or political commodification. Using a qualitative approach with in-depth interviews and document analysis, the findings show that the by-law was initiated by religious and political elites without meaningful inclusion of minority voices, and was ultimately rejected by East Java Provincial Government for violating human rights. In conclusion, the regulation serves more as a political commodity than authentic public aspiration, highlighting the need to strengthen civil society organizations and democratic education that respects minority rights. Fenomena maraknya peraturan daerah bernuansa agama pasca-reformasi di Indonesia memicu kekhawatiran akan diskriminasi dan pengabaian hak warga negara minoritas, meskipun pendukungnya menganggapnya sebagai perjuangan formalisasi syariat Islam melalui jalur lokal. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengungkap latar belakang, substansi, dan respons terhadap Perda Ramadhan di Kota Pasuruan serta menilai apakah perda tersebut mencerminkan aspirasi publik atau justru komoditas politik. Dengan pendekatan kualitatif melalui wawancara mendalam dan studi dokumen, penelitian ini menemukan bahwa Perda Ramadhan lahir dari elit agama dan politik, tidak melibatkan suara minoritas secara substantif, serta mendapat penolakan dari Pemerintah Provinsi Jawa Timur karena dianggap melanggar HAM. Kesimpulannya, perda ini lebih berfungsi sebagai komoditas politik daripada aspirasi masyarakat, sehingga diperlukan penguatan organisasi masyarakat sipil dan edukasi demokrasi yang menghormati hak minoritas.