Imam Soeroto, a respected religious leader from Central Java, Indonesia, always believed that faith held the key to justice and equality. For years, he guided his community through prayer and teachings, but it wasn’t until he began working with Islamic Relief that he realized the profound impact of positive masculinity.

Through workshops and community engagement, Imam Soeroto learned how faith could be a tool to reshape harmful gender norms. He began advocating for men to be protectors of dignity, encouraging them to challenge the deeply entrenched idea that masculinity must be tied to dominance or violence.

“True strength,” he would tell his congregation, “Is in compassion and respect, not in control or aggression.”

The concept of positive masculinity resonated with Soeroto on a personal level. He saw firsthand the broken promises made to women; promises of safety, respect, and equality that had been shattered by societal expectations of men.

Determined to change this, Imam Soeroto used his platform to speak openly about the importance of justice and equality in Islam, framing positive masculinity as an integral part of his faith.

His sermons now call on men to be allies in the fight against injustice, using their strength to uplift, not oppress. Through his leadership, men in his community are learning that true masculinity means upholding the values of empathy, respect, and shared responsibility for a just and peaceful society.