Reconstructing Indigenous Self-Determination through Maqashid al-Shari'ah: An Inter-Madhhab Analysis of the O'Hongana Manyawa Community in Indonesia

Moh. Maulana (Faculty of Law, Universitas Hasanuddin)
Abdul Maasba Magassing (Faculty of Law, Universitas Hasanuddin)
Andi Suriyaman Mustari Pide (Faculty of Law, Universitas Hasanuddin)
Nur Akifah Janur (Faculty of Sharia and Islamic Business Economics, Sekolah Tinggi Agama Islam Negeri Majene)
Zulfahmi AR (Al-Azhar University)

Jurnal Pengabdian Hukum Indonesia
Vol. 9 No. 2 (2026): July-December, 2026 (Article in Press)

This study examines the legitimacy of indigenous self-determination in Indonesia under national and Islamic law, using the O'Hongana Manyawa community of Halmahera, North Maluku, as an empirical case. Although the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), ICCPR, and ICESCR recognize self-determination as a fundamental right, its foundation in Islamic jurisprudence remains underexplored. At the same time, Indonesia's constitutional recognition of indigenous peoples has not translated into effective legal protection. Using a socio-legal (juridical-empirical) approach, this study draws on semi-structured interviews with 11 informants, including O'Hongana Manyawa community members, indigenous rights advocates, academics, and state and international actors, supported by analysis of legislation, court decisions, international instruments, and Islamic legal literature. The findings reveal structural weaknesses in Indonesia's protection framework, including declaratory recognition under Article 18B(2) of the Constitution, fragmented institutional authority, and the absence of a legally binding Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) requirement. These weaknesses have facilitated nickel-mining expansion into customary territories without meaningful indigenous consent and contributed to the criminalization of community members between 2013 and 2023. The Islamic legal analysis shows that the four Sunni madhhabs support the protection of indigenous self-determination through distinct doctrines: maslahah mursalah (Maliki), 'urf (Shafi'i), istihsan (Hanafi), and sadd al-dhara'i (Hanbali). The study concludes that indigenous self-determination constitutes internal autonomy within Indonesia's constitutional framework and is normatively grounded in Maqashid al-Shari'ah and international human rights law. This approach contributes to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth and SDG 11 on Sustainable Cities and Communities.