Abstract
Since the downfall of Suharto’s dictatorial regime in 1998, Indonesia has witnessed a surge of various Islamist groups that have potentially threatened the country’s religious tolerance, civil Islam, and civic pluralism. Moreover, it is suggested that the rise of Islamist groups could likely transform Indonesia into an intolerant Islamist country. However, this article asserts that the Islamist groups are unlikely to reform Indonesia into an Islamic State or Sharia–based government and society, and are unable to receive the support and approval of the Indonesian Muslim majority due to the following fundamental reasons: the groups’ internal and inherent weaknesses, ruptured alliance among the groups, lack of Islamist political parties, limited intellectual grounds of the movement, the accommodation of some influential Muslim clerics and figures into the central government body, and public opposition toward the Islamist groups.
Highlights
One of the consequences observed in Indonesia after the downfall of Suharto in May, 1998 was the surge in Islamism
Bassam Tibi (2012), a prominent scholar of Islamic politics, defined Islamism as a political ideology based on a reinvented version of Islamic laws or a political ideology that strives to derive legitimacy from Islam
The rise of Islamism in the country have led to an escalation of various negative consequences and measures undertaken, such as: collective riots, terrorist acts, and violent conflicts; the imposition of the implementation of Sharia–based regional law (Peraturan Daerah) in several provinces, regencies, and municipalities; religious inspired anti-pluralist movements and intolerant actions; threats to wipe out non-Muslims and minority groups; violent rallies to thoroughfares and town squares to demand the reformation of Indonesian ideology (i.e. Pancasila) and Constitution (i.e. UUD 1945) with Sharia, Islamic state, or caliphate; public gatherings organized by Islamist organizations to mock and accuse the Indonesian President, Joko Widodo, for being less-Islamic and anti-Islam for establishing diplomatic alliances with ‘infidel countries’, among others
Summary
One of the consequences observed in Indonesia after the downfall of Suharto in May, 1998 was the surge in Islamism. Ahok’s leadership and commitment to transform Jakarta into a leading metropolitan city by creating an effective, clean and transparent government that is built through democracy, tolerance, pluralism, civility and liberty have threatened political, economic, and religious/ideological interests of the immoral politicians, gluttonous businessmen and extremist Islamists These groups forged an alliance to overthrow Ahok in a coup by; (1) mobilizing ordinary people, urban Muslims, and religious fanatics and zealots, (2) conducting mass rallies and marches, (3) spreading terrors and hate speeches, (4) abusing mosques for political purposes, (5) manipulating religious texts and discourses, and (6) bribing poor urban people to vote against him.
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