In armed conflict, protecting civilians is not merely a legal matter but also a test of the humanitarian values upheld by every religious tradition. Islam, Buddhism, Catholicism, Hinduism, and Christianity each have an ethical foundation that can serve as common ground for reflection on limiting violence, preserving human dignity, and preventing needless suffering.

These ideas came to the fore in a dialogue session titled “The Law of Armed Conflict and Religious Teachings and Traditions: Multireligious Perspectives on the Protection of Civilians,” held in Yogyakarta on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. The dialogue is part of the 9th certificate course (K-9), “Humanity in War: The Law of Armed Conflict from Multireligious Perspectives,” organized by CDCIA and the Faculty of Sharia and Law (FSH) of UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, together with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Jakarta and the Association of Teachers and Scholars of Islamic Law and International Humanitarian Law in Indonesia (INSANIA), on October 19-22, 2026.

The forum brought together academics and interfaith leaders to discuss how religious teachings view limits on violence, the protection of civilians and civilian objects, and the ethics of the means and methods of warfare. The discussion also examined where religious values and the principles of international humanitarian law converge, including the distinction between combatants and civilians, proportionality, and precaution in military operations.

Ziaullah Rahmani, ICRC Regional Adviser for Islamic Law and Jurisprudence in Islamabad, underscored the equal standing of all human beings as an important foundation for viewing humanity. He linked this to the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) that every human being is born in a state of fitrah (innate nature). This perspective is a reminder that human dignity is inherent, not determined by a person's identity, background, or position in a conflict.

Within this framework, protecting civilians requires recognizing that every person retains human worth, including those in conflict zones or from opposing groups.

From the Buddhist tradition, J Bhikṣuni Thitacarini of the Sangha Agung Indonesia invited participants to reflect on the relationship among hatred, war, and suffering. She explained that Buddhist teachings emphasize respect for life, control of hatred, and rejection of revenge.

Thitacarini also highlighted the importance of a critical attitude toward religious views. Advice or opinions from senior figures still need to be examined further rather than accepted without consideration. This reflection shows that living one's faith requires wisdom as well as responsibility in making decisions.

Meanwhile, Fr. Albertus Bagus Laksana, S.J., S.S., Ph.D., Rector of Sanata Dharma University Yogyakarta, brought the discussion to the dimension of conscience and individual moral responsibility. Drawing on the story of the Trojan War, he touched on how deception can turn what appears to be a gift into a path to attack and destruction.

He also raised the concept of xenia in ancient Greek tradition, the norm of hospitality and respect for guests. This perspective opens space to reflect on how the value of welcoming others can clash with violence and betrayal in war.

For Albertus, moral consideration does not end with rules or collective decisions. Individuals still bear a responsibility to use their conscience when facing situations of war. Even within a military structure, a person still faces moral questions about their actions and their consequences for human life.

From the Hindu tradition, Ari Dwipayana, a lecturer in the Department of Politics and Government at Universitas Gadjah Mada, invited participants to reread the ethical values in the Mahabharata and connect them to contemporary politics and conflict. War, according to the perspective he discussed, should not be waged solely out of ambition and ego but must consider its grounds, its limits, and its consequences.

He touched on the principle of equality in warfare, including balance in the use of weapons and consideration of timing in launching attacks. The declaration of war was also part of the discussion on the importance of acting openly rather than attacking through deceit.

Ari stressed the need to transform thinking about war: justification for going to war must come with limits on how war is waged. Ethical consideration must not stop once fighting begins but must also cover the aftermath, including the suffering of communities and the humanitarian consequences left behind.

Rev. Irene Ludji, MAR., Ph.D., Vice Dean of the Faculty of Theology at Satya Wacana Christian University (UKSW) Salatiga, underscored the importance of ethics in reading and practicing religious teachings. In her view, faith must be expressed through solidarity with vulnerable groups. A person cannot shed moral responsibility toward those who suffer injustice simply by invoking belief.

She cautioned that interfaith learning loses its meaning if the knowledge gained is used to justify injustice in society. For this reason, interpretation of scripture needs to come with ethical consideration and a willingness to critique understandings that could legitimize violence.

This critical stance, in her view, is not resistance to God but part of practicing religious teachings responsibly. Religion should be a source of values for protecting life and human dignity, not a justification for actions that demean others.

Through this course, CDCIA and FSH UIN Sunan Kalijaga, together with ICRC Jakarta and INSANIA, provide a space where legal knowledge, religious studies, and contemporary humanitarian issues meet. This cross-perspective dialogue offers a chance to test how the values taught in religious traditions can be brought into conversations about protecting people amid war.

In the end, the greatest challenge is not simply finding shared teachings among religions but making sure those values truly shape how people treat one another. For in a conflict that divides people by identity and allegiance, protecting civilians is a reminder that human life and dignity must not become casualties of a clash of interests. (humassk)