[GELORA45] Is Indonesia’s Unity Threatened by Hardline Turn?

[Sunny ambon ilmeseng...@gmail.com [GELORA45]]

http://insight.jakartaglobe.id/is-indonesias-unity-threatened-by-hardline-turn/




   -

   AUGUST 

Infographic

Nationalism

Is Indonesia’s Unity Threatened by Hardline Turn?

Muhamad Al Azhari, Amal Ganesha

12 min read


*Jakarta.* As Indonesia celebrates its 72nd anniversary on Thursday
(17/08), hardline Islamist groups in the largest Muslim-majority country
seem to be tightening their grip on society. Their ability to mobilize
masses
,
marginalize minority groups and engender narratives of intolerance
,
poses
a serious challenge to Indonesia’s long-standing model of religious
moderation and secular, democratic tradition.

In one of the most notable recent developments, the hardline groups scored
a victory for their Muslim candidates in Jakarta’s gubernatorial election
in April. According to many observers, the poll was tainted by one of the
most divisive and polarizing campaigns

in the history of the country, where 87 percent of the 250 million
population identify themselves as Muslims.

*Don’t Go West*

Now that the Jakarta election is over and Indonesia is heading to its next
presidential vote in 2019, everyone is looking to see how the
administration of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo can stick to a pluralist
course and uphold the country’s tradition of religious tolerance, while
maintaining high approval ratings among Muslims.

According to Asad Ali Said, one of the most influential figures
in the Nahdlatul Ulama — the world’s largest Muslim organization, which
claims a membership of more than 60 million — hardline Islamist groups have
been gaining ground with growing resistance

against what they call “Western values,” and more aggressive religious
preaching, or “*dakwah*,” at the grassroots level.

Asad said Indonesian Muslims are increasingly vocal against Western values.
In their anti-Western discourse what is seen as “values” is equated with
hedonism and materialism, alcohol consumption, “free sex
”
lifestyle, acceptance of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders (LGBT),
and freedom of speech. Coupled with resentment of social and economic
inequality
,
this rhetoric gives a lifeline to Islamist groups to win the hearts of
their Muslim brothers.

“Freedom of speech without proper control can easily end up with people
committing blasphemy. The West says blasphemy is okay, but here it is not.
This was why a large number of mainstream Muslims turned against Ahok
,”
said Asad, referring to the infamous blasphemy case

against Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama.

Ahok was found guilty

of blasphemy for alleging that his political rivals had been quoting a
Koranic verse to discredit him. The Chinese-Christian former governor was
sentenced to two years in jail after he lost the gubernatorial election.

[image: 'Detain Ahok' reads a poster held by hardline Muslim protesters at
a demonstration in Jakarta on May 5, during Jakarta Governor Basuki 'Ahok'
Tjahaja Purnama's blasphemy trial. (Reuters Photo/Beawiharta)]
‘Detain
Ahok’ reads a poster held by hardline Muslim protesters at a demonstration
in Jakarta on May 5, during Jakarta Governor Basuki ‘Ahok’ Tjahaja
Purnama’s blasphemy trial. (Reuters Photo/Beawiharta)

The series of anti-Ahok rallies
,
some of which turned violent

and
disrupted the capital city prior to the election, according to political
observers had shown cracks in the country’s unity.

Indonesia’s controversial 1965 Law on Prevention of Abuse of Religion
and/or Blasphemy is criticized by human rights activists, who since decades
have been calling for its abolition. In 2010, a group of activists,

[GELORA45] Is Indonesia’s Unity Threatened by Hardline Turn?

[Sunny ambon ilmeseng...@gmail.com [GELORA45]]

http://insight.jakartaglobe.id/is-indonesias-unity-threatened-by-hardline-turn/




   -

   AUGUST 

Infographic

Nationalism

Is Indonesia’s Unity Threatened by Hardline Turn?

Muhamad Al Azhari, Amal Ganesha

12 min read


*Jakarta.* As Indonesia celebrates its 72nd anniversary on Thursday
(17/08), hardline Islamist groups in the largest Muslim-majority country
seem to be tightening their grip on society. Their ability to mobilize
masses
,
marginalize minority groups and engender narratives of intolerance
,
poses
a serious challenge to Indonesia’s long-standing model of religious
moderation and secular, democratic tradition.

In one of the most notable recent developments, the hardline groups scored
a victory for their Muslim candidates in Jakarta’s gubernatorial election
in April. According to many observers, the poll was tainted by one of the
most divisive and polarizing campaigns

in the history of the country, where 87 percent of the 250 million
population identify themselves as Muslims.

*Don’t Go West*

Now that the Jakarta election is over and Indonesia is heading to its next
presidential vote in 2019, everyone is looking to see how the
administration of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo can stick to a pluralist
course and uphold the country’s tradition of religious tolerance, while
maintaining high approval ratings among Muslims.

According to Asad Ali Said, one of the most influential figures
in the Nahdlatul Ulama — the world’s largest Muslim organization, which
claims a membership of more than 60 million — hardline Islamist groups have
been gaining ground with growing resistance

against what they call “Western values,” and more aggressive religious
preaching, or “*dakwah*,” at the grassroots level.

Asad said Indonesian Muslims are increasingly vocal against Western values.
In their anti-Western discourse what is seen as “values” is equated with
hedonism and materialism, alcohol consumption, “free sex
”
lifestyle, acceptance of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders (LGBT),
and freedom of speech. Coupled with resentment of social and economic
inequality
,
this rhetoric gives a lifeline to Islamist groups to win the hearts of
their Muslim brothers.

“Freedom of speech without proper control can easily end up with people
committing blasphemy. The West says blasphemy is okay, but here it is not.
This was why a large number of mainstream Muslims turned against Ahok
,”
said Asad, referring to the infamous blasphemy case

against Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama.

Ahok was found guilty

of blasphemy for alleging that his political rivals had been quoting a
Koranic verse to discredit him. The Chinese-Christian former governor was
sentenced to two years in jail after he lost the gubernatorial election.

[image: 'Detain Ahok' reads a poster held by hardline Muslim protesters at
a demonstration in Jakarta on May 5, during Jakarta Governor Basuki 'Ahok'
Tjahaja Purnama's blasphemy trial. (Reuters Photo/Beawiharta)]
‘Detain
Ahok’ reads a poster held by hardline Muslim protesters at a demonstration
in Jakarta on May 5, during Jakarta Governor Basuki ‘Ahok’ Tjahaja
Purnama’s blasphemy trial. (Reuters Photo/Beawiharta)

The series of anti-Ahok rallies
,
some of which turned violent

and
disrupted the capital city prior to the election, according to political
observers had shown cracks in the country’s unity.

Indonesia’s controversial 1965 Law on Prevention of Abuse of Religion
and/or Blasphemy is criticized by human rights activists, who since decades
have been calling for its abolition. In 2010, a group of activists,