There is arguably no group of people more opposed to Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama on the grounds of his ethnicity and religion than hardline group Islamic Defenders Front (FPI). That is why it’s quite shocking to hear them change their tune and say they actually don’t mind non-Muslim leaders.
No, seriously. That statement came from the mouth of FPI Grand Imam Habib Rizieq himself, who has always been at the forefront of FPI’s opposition of Ahok ever since the governor took office in 2014.
“I rejected non-Muslim leaders not because of sentiment, but because it was the order from God. If a non-Muslim leader is elected [democratically] then I will respect and support that as long as the leader is respectful, polite, honest, and is willing to defend the people,” he said, as quoted by Merdeka yesterday.
Habib Rizieq added that FPI’s rejection of Ahok stemmed from his policies that persecute Islam, such as the ban on slaughtering animals for the annual Qurban Islamic ritual on streets or schoolyards (even though Qurban slaughter is still allowed in designated locations where hygiene can be better controlled).
In reality, however, FPI’s rejection of Ahok has always been fundamentally down to the governor’s ethnicity and religion. FPI is, after all, the very same group who rioted and assaulted police with rocks and weapons in direct response to Ahok’s appointment – a Protestant Christian of Chinese descent – as governor of Jakarta in 2014.
Yet is Habib Rizieq’s statement a sign that the FPI is becoming more tolerant? For the sake of progress in Indonesia, we certainly hope so, though we won’t be surprised if they riot again should Ahok get re-elected in 2017.
