Taiwan is a democratic country that respects the value of tolerance. Many foreigners can live in Taiwan and receive rights and treatment similar to Taiwanese. One of those rights is to religion. Everyone is free to choose and practice their religion, and no restrictions are imposed on them.
Despite being a minority religion for Taiwanese, Islam is the dominant religion for Indonesians in Taiwan. This is evident in the many organizations or groups that aim to accommodate Muslims, such as PCINU Taiwan — the local branch of Indonesian Islamic organization Nahdlatul Ulaman — and the association of Indonesian Muslims in Taiwan. Most of the organizations were initiated and are run by migrants, the majority of whom are workers.
Last month, Muslims around the world, including in Taiwan, ended Ramadan by celebrating Eid al-Fitr. Much like Lunar New Year, Eid al-Fitr is a significant holiday for Muslims, because it is only held once a year.
On April 22, at least 17 cities across Taiwan held Eid al-Fitr prayers, local Islamic organizations reported. The venues for the prayers were not limited to mosques. Some groups utilized public facilities such as fields, parks, fish markets and train stations.
This year, Muslims were permitted to hold Eid al-Fitr prayers for the first time in the courtyard of Kaohsiung Main Station. In addition to worship, the organizers of the prayers, which were hosted by several Islamic groups, also held additional activities.
The organizers reached out to immigrants to discuss their aspirations. They also invited several important parties, including representatives of the Indonesian Economic and Trade Office to Taipei (IETO), the Protection of Indonesian Citizens, the Kaohsiung office of the National Immigration Agency and the Kaohsiung Civil Affairs Bureau.
In a forum held after prayers, participants discussed issues regarding various issues faced by Indonesian migrants in Taiwan. One of the issues was the right to worship.
Although Taiwan provides freedom of religion, Taiwan has not designated Eid al-Fitr a national holiday. It must be designated, as many Muslim migrant workers have found it difficult to carry out the Eid al-Fitr prayer because of work obligations. Even though contracts usually allow workers the right to worship, many employers do not provide sufficient time off.
Many migrant workers complained about the issue at the forum. A National Immigration Agency representative said that such a situation can be reported.
However, this is not a solution, because if a complaint is made, it could damage the relationship between workers and their employers, which could lead to the termination of their employment.
As two of the parties responsible for addressing migrant issues, IETO and the National Immigration Agency should be more active in monitoring and evaluating workers’ situations. Rather than waiting for workers to report difficulties, the agencies should supervise and advise employers to ensure they comply with regulations. That way, rules can be implemented without damaging relationships between workers and employers.
Apart from representing Indonesia in Taiwan, IETO should fight for the rights of Indonesian migrants. More specifically, in the context of the right to worship, it should not only distribute information to migrants, but also establish direct communication with local agencies, so that migrant workers’ rights can be protected.
In accordance with IETO’s vision of realizing Indonesia-Taiwan economic cooperation that benefits national interests, it should work more comprehensively, such as by directly meeting with Indonesians rather than simply inviting them to an event. It could also submit more suggestions for the Indonesian and Taiwanese governments to deal with problems.
An official is still a worker, and as they work for the public and the nation, they must not only make regulations, but also oversee their continuous implementation. Only through ongoing evaluation and repeated investigation of policies and problems can people’s rights be guaranteed and protected.
Hasan Basri Maulana Firmansyah is a doctoral student majoring in mechanical engineering at National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology. He is a researcher and freelance writer active in social, artistic and cultural activities.
In the US’ National Security Strategy (NSS) report released last month, US President Donald Trump offered his interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine. The “Trump Corollary,” presented on page 15, is a distinctly aggressive rebranding of the more than 200-year-old foreign policy position. Beyond reasserting the sovereignty of the western hemisphere against foreign intervention, the document centers on energy and strategic assets, and attempts to redraw the map of the geopolitical landscape more broadly. It is clear that Trump no longer sees the western hemisphere as a peaceful backyard, but rather as the frontier of a new Cold War. In particular,
When it became clear that the world was entering a new era with a radical change in the US’ global stance in US President Donald Trump’s second term, many in Taiwan were concerned about what this meant for the nation’s defense against China. Instability and disruption are dangerous. Chaos introduces unknowns. There was a sense that the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) might have a point with its tendency not to trust the US. The world order is certainly changing, but concerns about the implications for Taiwan of this disruption left many blind to how the same forces might also weaken
As the new year dawns, Taiwan faces a range of external uncertainties that could impact the safety and prosperity of its people and reverberate in its politics. Here are a few key questions that could spill over into Taiwan in the year ahead. WILL THE AI BUBBLE POP? The global AI boom supported Taiwan’s significant economic expansion in 2025. Taiwan’s economy grew over 7 percent and set records for exports, imports, and trade surplus. There is a brewing debate among investors about whether the AI boom will carry forward into 2026. Skeptics warn that AI-led global equity markets are overvalued and overleveraged
As the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) races toward its 2027 modernization goals, most analysts fixate on ship counts, missile ranges and artificial intelligence. Those metrics matter — but they obscure a deeper vulnerability. The true future of the PLA, and by extension Taiwan’s security, might hinge less on hardware than on whether the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) can preserve ideological loyalty inside its own armed forces. Iran’s 1979 revolution demonstrated how even a technologically advanced military can collapse when the social environment surrounding it shifts. That lesson has renewed relevance as fresh unrest shakes Iran today — and it should
RSS