Indonesian Judiciary Modernization Draws Study Visit from Zanzibar Delegation
Jakarta, GemaTipikor – The modernization of Indonesia’s judicial system has attracted international attention, as a delegation from Zanzibar, Tanzania, visited the Central Jakarta Religious Court on Wednesday (June 10, 2026) to study its digital services and innovative court administration practices.
Chief Judge of the Central Jakarta Religious Court, Muhammad Aliyuddin, said that the court’s digital transformation is part of a broader effort to improve public services while expanding access to justice for Indonesian citizens living abroad.
One of the court’s flagship programs is the international circuit court for marriage legalization (itsbat nikah) cases. The initiative enables Indonesian citizens residing or working overseas to obtain legal recognition of their marriages without having to return to Indonesia for court proceedings.
The program has been implemented consistently over recent years. In 2025, the Central Jakarta Religious Court handled 690 marriage legalization cases through hearings conducted in several cities in Malaysia, including Tawau, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, and Kuching, as well as in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The court processed the same number of cases in 2024 through hearings held in Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Penang, Kuching, Johor Bahru, and Tawau. In 2023, a total of 712 cases were resolved through hearings conducted in Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Tawau, and Seoul, South Korea.
In addition to expanding legal services across borders, the court has developed Spesial Pro, a digital platform designed to integrate the management of overseas marriage legalization cases. The application has helped streamline administrative procedures, improve service efficiency, and provide greater convenience for justice seekers.
The success of these innovations drew the interest of the Zanzibar delegation, led by Hassan Othman Ngwali, accompanied by judicial officials, judges, and mediators. The delegation visited the court to gain firsthand insight into Indonesia’s digital court services and judicial management system.
The visit began with a traditional Javanese cultural welcome ceremony. During the event, the Chief Judge presented a blangkon, a traditional Javanese headpiece, to the head of the delegation as a symbol of respect, friendship, and strong institutional relations between the two judicial bodies.
Throughout the visit, the Zanzibar delegation received presentations on various technology-based service innovations implemented by the court. They also toured public service facilities and engaged in discussions with court leaders and staff regarding the governance of modern judicial services.
Particular attention was given to Indonesia’s judicial oversight system. Delegates studied internal monitoring mechanisms and the use of the Judicial Oversight Information System (SIWAS), developed by the Supreme Court of Indonesia as a platform for receiving and processing public complaints.
Responding to questions from the delegation, Muhammad Aliyuddin explained that judicial oversight in Indonesia is carried out under Supreme Court regulations through a structured and transparent mechanism. He also highlighted that the Spesial Pro application was specifically developed to support marriage legalization services for Indonesian citizens living overseas.
According to Aliyuddin, these innovations form part of the Supreme Court of Indonesia’s broader judicial modernization agenda. Through the use of technology, the judiciary aims to provide faster, more accountable, and more responsive legal services that meet the evolving needs of society.
The visit was also accompanied by Yudi Hermawan, Judicial Judge, and Aisyah Kahar from the Directorate General of Religious Courts (Badilag) of the Supreme Court of Indonesia.
The meeting is expected to strengthen cooperation, facilitate the exchange of experiences, and promote the sharing of best practices in technology-based judicial services between Indonesia and Zanzibar, Tanzania.
With extensive experience in conducting cross-border court hearings and continuous digital innovation, the Central Jakarta Religious Court remains committed to delivering a modern, inclusive, and accessible justice system for Indonesian citizens wherever they may reside.
Reporter: Nadia
