Islamic Radicalism in Indonesia
Transcript of Islamic Radicalism in Indonesia
-
7/29/2019 Islamic Radicalism in Indonesia
1/27
Islamic Radicalism in IndonesiaMinhal Saba Khan
Sarah Schneider
-
7/29/2019 Islamic Radicalism in Indonesia
2/27
Outline
1. Do we need an outline? ;)
2. Who decides if a person or group is radical? Who is a
radical?
-
7/29/2019 Islamic Radicalism in Indonesia
3/27
Moluccas: about 4000 dead from 1999 to 2000 and
thousands of refugees
Bali: terror attack with 202 dead in 2002
-
7/29/2019 Islamic Radicalism in Indonesia
4/27
Emergence of violent Muslim groups and inter-religiousconflicts are quite new phenomena in Indonesia
Before there was a more or less peaceful relationship betweendifferent ethnic groups
This violent and confused maelstrom that Indonesia hadplunged into and the boiling over of Islamist fever in acountry long reputed for its religious tolerance left the
majority of observers perplexed. (p. 52)
What happened?
-
7/29/2019 Islamic Radicalism in Indonesia
5/27
1. The Struggle for Recognition of Political Islam
2. Influence of International Islam
3. The Fall of the Soeharto Regime
-
7/29/2019 Islamic Radicalism in Indonesia
6/27
1.The Struggle for Recognition of Political Islam
two major Muslim political movements inIndonesia:
Masyumi and Darul Islam
both aimed at creating an Islamic state
-
7/29/2019 Islamic Radicalism in Indonesia
7/27
Masyumi: created as an umbrella organization for Muslim organizations in
1945
leading political party, comparable to European democratic parties,reformist movement
had been in opposition to Sukarno, took part in an CIA supportedrebellion against him, members were imprisoned and party banned
after the takeover of Soeharto members were released from prison,but party was not allowed to take a political role again
split into two groups
1.The Struggle for Recognition of Political Islam
-
7/29/2019 Islamic Radicalism in Indonesia
8/27
1. DDII: missionary efforts, turn Muslims into better believers,believe in the superiority of western style democracy but at thesame time they see Christian missionary as a threat to Islam,over time the DDII became much more radical and believed in
a conspiracy of Christians
2. Second group became part ofSoehartos party Golkar and gaveup opposition
The depoliticization caused a turn to Islamic thoughts andopened up people close to Masyumi to ideas of the MuslimBrotherhood
1.The Struggle for Recognition of Political Islam
-
7/29/2019 Islamic Radicalism in Indonesia
9/27
Darul Islam: formed out of Muslim Militias and other rebellious movements in 1942,
state should be based on sharia
Major leaders were killed in the 1960s but the network was neverdestroyed
parts of the network had close relations to intelligence services, whichused DI as a secret weapon against communism
The extremist group Komando Jihad was closely linked to DI
Many members of DI took refuge in Malaysia, from where hundredsor thousands travelled to Pakistan or Afghanistan to receive guerillatrainings and engage in jihad
1.The Struggle for Recognition of Political Islam
-
7/29/2019 Islamic Radicalism in Indonesia
10/27
Policy of Soeharto to play down any opposition
contributed to the clandestine radicalization of Muslim groups
The climax ofSoehartos policy of depoliticizing Islam reachedits climax in the mid-1980s, when all parties and associationswere de facto forced to renounce on Islam as their foundation
This led to resistance and radicalization, radical Muslim students wentunderground
1.The Struggle for Recognition of Political Islam
-
7/29/2019 Islamic Radicalism in Indonesia
11/27
Marginalization of political Islam had the effect of exposingIndonesia to the international networks of militant Islam, especially
Wahhabi-inspired networks, known as Salafism, organizedgrowing networks and discussion circles, had been mobilizedwhen the conflicts on the Moluccos broke out
Muslim Brotherhood
promotion of anti-west attitudes
training of hundreds of militants abroad who hoped to transformIndonesia into a new ground for jihad
2. Influence of International Islam
-
7/29/2019 Islamic Radicalism in Indonesia
12/27
Empowering of Islam within the New Order
in the late 1980s Soeharto adopted a friendlier attitude towards politicalIslam and established an association of Muslim intellectuals ICMI
-> more participation of political and radical Islam
neither of the two major Muslim organizations of Indonesia wasrepresented there but other more radical groups -> which pushed thegovernment into an alliance with the most radical Islamic movements
regime got more and more desperate and cooperated with severalradical Muslim groups as last sort of support -> they were playing withfire
the opening of Soeharto towards political Islam was only carried out ina mode of exploitation
3. The Fall of the Soeharto Regime
-
7/29/2019 Islamic Radicalism in Indonesia
13/27
Conflicts within the military institution
the military was very powerful under Soeharto (military / political/economical power)
in the last years of the New Order struggle for influential posts within thearmy grew harder and some army officers made alliances with radicalIslamist groups, those took the opportunity for more power thankfully
fight for power between two fractions: secular Muslims vs. reformistMuslims
stoking ethnic tensions by calling up for an action against the enemies ofIslam, indirect intervention in the Moluccas
power struggles between rival elite factions caused inter-ethnic and inter-religoius violence
3. The Fall of the Soeharto Regime
-
7/29/2019 Islamic Radicalism in Indonesia
14/27
Economic, social and political crisis
the last years ofSoehartos rule were marked by a economic crisis(Asian monetary crisis) and social crisis (called SARA: ethnic, religiousand racial confrontations)
financial crisis lays the ground for anti-western and anti-Christianpropaganda, nine million unemployed -> is a group which can be easilyinfluenced by radicals
two communities were the mayor victims of the social tensions:Christians and Indonesians of Chinese descent
3. The Fall of the Soeharto Regime
-
7/29/2019 Islamic Radicalism in Indonesia
15/27
Indonesians of Chinese descent constitute around 4 % of the population but hold a strong economic dominance
in the country
group has been blamed to be responsible for the recent financial crisis, anti-
Chinese propaganda was spread by radical Islamist groups
anti-Chinese riotsbroke out with rapes and hundreds of dead people and thearmy did not intervene
Christians at the beginning the New Order only six official religions were allowed in
Indonesia, especially local beliefs were excluded, as a consequence a movementof conversations occurred, most converted to Islam, a minority to Christianity
in the 1970s and 80s more and more converted to Christianity, that stoked anobsessive fear of Christianization within the Muslim community
3. The Fall of the Soeharto Regime
-
7/29/2019 Islamic Radicalism in Indonesia
16/27
transmigration tension
another factor for the social tensions
transmigration policy allowed people to migrate within Indonesia,more that 5.5 million did so
this policy destroyed the fragile ethnic, religious, economic andsocial balances
in several regions majorities turned into minorities and thepreviously dominant community were threatened
example: southern Moluccas, minority Muslim community becamea majority in the region
3. The Fall of the Soeharto Regime
-
7/29/2019 Islamic Radicalism in Indonesia
17/27
This inter-ethnic and inter-religious violence
was influenced by the army officers who intervened and even stokedthe tensions in the struggle for power
mobilized a vast part of the Muslim community in Indonesia andsupported the radicalization of moderate Muslim
was godsend for the radicals and therefore an important steptowards radicalization of Islam in Indonesia
3. The Fall of the Soeharto Regime
-
7/29/2019 Islamic Radicalism in Indonesia
18/27
After Soehartos fall
there was opened a political space that had been closed to politicalIslam for decades
a period of possibilities for radical Islam started and numerousmilitias were created, some with influential friends within the innercircle of power
high military officers allied themselves with radical Muslims out ofpolitical opportunism
creation of political Islamic parties was not longer restricted andmore than hundred parties were formed
3. The Fall of the Soeharto Regime
-
7/29/2019 Islamic Radicalism in Indonesia
19/27
Salafism
Wahhabi propaganda in the 1970s due to arab andSouth Asian influence in the country.
Education religion Monetary influence
An conservative group, who want to practice Islamin its pure form as it was originally.
Non-Saudi Wahhabis referred to as Salafi Literalist, strict, puritanical As a reaction to the spread of European ideas
-
7/29/2019 Islamic Radicalism in Indonesia
20/27
The radical movements young militants and students
Many more networks were formed out of the DI and Masyumi
Method of the militants
Preaching, predication, dakwah (dawa) Many small movements Battles for imamate
Youth movements started by the Masyumi became active, building
pesantrens, expanding isolated communities
Progression ofdawa
DI wanting islamisation from top in comparison to DDIIadvocating islamisation from below.
-
7/29/2019 Islamic Radicalism in Indonesia
21/27
The radical movements young militants and students
Usrob and Tarbiyah clandestine networks and special training.
A niqib (leader) selected people would go for special trainings and live withinthat community. A perfect family for a perfect society to create a perfect caliphate again
Radicalisation as result of banned political activities. Mosques as the soleplace for socialization transformation of the Indonesian campuses.
An ex member of one of the networks said that se never felt that she wasmilitating for islam. Worked more like a sect. investigation in bandung in march 2000 showed that movement characterised
secrecy and control The NII encouraged members to cut off from family
Meeting of usroh took place in the homes and only the leader could contactthe rest.
BPMI created to systemize Islamic teaching in schools
-
7/29/2019 Islamic Radicalism in Indonesia
22/27
The radical movements young militants and students
Two reasons for the change: ties with DI and fighting for islamistinternational struggle.
Reletively peaceful movemnt became violent towards other faiths Fighting against the soviets
In the 70s, propagation with aid of Saudis, and islamic radicalists inpakistan and afganistan, the archipelago gained considerable power
Use of identity politics against minorities
War on terror
sayyaf camps Faith, fraternity and military force
-
7/29/2019 Islamic Radicalism in Indonesia
23/27
Reinterpretation of Indonesian History
Failure to censor earlier publications by Arab writers from beingtranslated and distributed In 1998 under president Habibie al censorship abolished
Fighting the demons in human form
Until 1970s conspiracy themes were not widespread PersatuanIslam never became as hostile as later groups.
1945 independence, signing the Jakarta Charter to representsecular nationalists. Constitution accepted dominance of Islam but without any mention
of it. Compromise respecting minorities was not really addressed nor was
it a pressing issue of the time. Not the Christian but atheist Marxism was seen as the bigger threat.
-
7/29/2019 Islamic Radicalism in Indonesia
24/27
Reinterpretation
Christian parties were loyal allies of the Masyumi until it was banned in 1960
Leaders of religious-political parties were hunted and felt betrayed by theSoeharto regime. Regimes mistrust of political Islam turned them into pariahs. The international conspiracy against Indonesian Islam
Search for the legitimacy of jihad due to increasing pressure and influenceof the US in Asian politics.
Women and the Indonesian Islamic movements limitation on women inIndonesian society which largely ignores the separation of sexes
Lack of cooperation within moderate Muslim leaders infidels in theirfaith
democracy as a product of imperialism agenda to over take by theinfidels
The west copies Islamic methods of consultation, justice and a sense ofresponsibility from Adam to Aristotle is the basis of Islams superiority.
-
7/29/2019 Islamic Radicalism in Indonesia
25/27
Contradictions of the Indonesian Homo Islamicus
Opinions differ from the votes given
The country treats radicals who have strayed into politics harshly yet is notindifferent to the themes they develop.
Pancasila, tolerant and open Islam, endorsing a Muslim identity withoutmaking Islam the sole basis of their political action
A marked chasm appears since 1999 separating identity based Islam fromproject based Islam. (NU, Muhammadiya vs. PBB, PK, PPP)
50 out of 87% chose to vote for a party without links to Islam
2004 election: only 38% votes for parties representing Islam.
Remarkable case of Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) fighting for anticorruption themes while toning down calls for implementation of Islam.
Proposed to replace the Jakarta Charter with a new concept of the MedinaCharter, where each religion could apply its own law.
-
7/29/2019 Islamic Radicalism in Indonesia
26/27
Continued
June 2009 elections were also a bitter disappointment for parties representing Islam
Total 9of these received 29% votes altogether.
Dissent and loss of credibility
Sympathizers of NU and Muhammadiya re-engaged in politics.
Pols from 2001 to 2007 show a picture of the Muslim community that is verydifferent from the political evolution.
Progressive changes in the Islamisation of Indonesian Law In the first two decades debates on Islamic law were taboo
Since 1989 the country has developed its laws on polygamy, inheritance, a civil code forreligious communities, zakat, established Islamic banks and abolished lottery,educational reforms (teachers had to be same religion as the students), anti-pornographylaw.
Main victims of the break up of Muslim representation NU and Muhammadiya There are further branches of these groups, some moderate, others rigorous in their
beliefs and methods. In many areas it was the triumph of the conservative group.
The NU respect of sharia, but did not want to impose if on all. He warned against risksof radical Islam. But even within this group a study in 2008 revealed the advances of theconservative group.
-
7/29/2019 Islamic Radicalism in Indonesia
27/27
Conclusion
Compromises Indonesian Islam at odds with a purifying reformism
Condemnations were based necessities of adopting to the new world
Propelled by a new urban elite sweeping away the vestiges of Islam led astray bysuperstitions from another age
The strengthening of Indonesian army due to alliance with technocrats taking on acondescending attitude towards reformist Islam.
Dawa to spread Islam without control and organization leading to a hotbed of new intolerance
Preventing political Islam which lead to extremist Islam the international situation.
Radicalization of Islam in Indonesia due to its own political failure
Opposing the foreign West but not the Foreign sources of inspiration of their radicalization
Since the economic crises, Muslim conservatism has somewhat eclipsed radicalism butIslamic liberalism once known in Indonesia has a hard time renewing the open minded ness ofthe indonesian population in matters of religion