Navigating Indonesia’s Political and Ethnic Unrest: The Ahok Blasphemy Incident Revisited

Abstract

This paper aims to revisit the infamous blasphemy case involving Jakarta’s governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, known as Ahok, in 2016, which sparked significant political and social unrest in Indonesia. As the first ethnic Chinese and non-Muslim governor of a predominantly Muslim city, Ahok was accused of blasphemy for quoting a verse from the Qur’an during his 2017 election campaign. His remarks, intended to criticize opponents using religious justification against his leadership, were perceived as an insult by Islamist conservatives, leading to massive protests on November 4^th and December 2^nd, 2016, known as the 411 and 212 rallies. These protests initially focused on blasphemy and escalated into broader anti-Chinese sentiments, highlighting Indonesia's recurring ethnic tensions during political transitions. While Indonesia’s flawed democracy has allowed ‘rallies’ and ‘social movements to burgeon in recent decades, this paper explores the political and ethnic dynamics surrounding ethnic and religious rallies from constructionist and circumstantialism lenses. By learning from Ahok’s case, this paper aims to provide the historical context of anti-Chinese sentiments and insights into the position of Chinese Indonesians within Indonesia's political landscape and the underlying causes of such ethnic conflicts, and moving forward, creating more inclusive opportunities for ethnic minorities in Indonesia.