Echo of Ahok Case Beyond Electoral Territory of Jakarta: The Case of Islamic Defense Action in Jambi Ahead of Pilkada DKI Jakarta 2017

Abstract  

JAKARTA PROVINCIAL elections in 2017 brought broad resonance not only in the electoral region in the area, but also spread to many regions in Indonesia. Besides Jakarta is the capital city of the country, which became the center of attention of all citizens, the cause is the election with issues relating to Islam, the majority religion of the country.

Approximately five months ahead of the vote, the incumbent governor with ethnic Chinese and Christian background, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama or Ahok, delivered a speech citing verses of the Qur'an and was later regarded as harassment of the holy book. In addition to Ahok being brought to court, a massive demonstration wave of Muslims, called the Islamic Defense Action, was held not only in Jakarta, but also in many other areas in the country.

This article discusses the Islamic Defense Action in Jambi, the actors who were in front line the demonstrations, and how the action is replicated for other cases of Islamic harassment in this area. Based on field observations, interviews, media archive readings, and an analysis of recorded Friday sermons in Jambi, this article argues that Islamic identity and sentiment seek to be raised to mobilize these actions in order to gain broader support for broader interests.[]

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Suaidi Asyari & M. Husnul Abid, “Echo of Ahok Case Beyond Electoral Territory of Jakarta: The Case of Islamic Defense Action in Jambi Ahead of Pilkada DKI Jakarta 2017”, Paper presented at the 10th Al-Jami’ah Forum “Identity in the Age of Populism: Southeast Asian Perspectives”, Yogyakarta, 10-12 November 2017.