01 December 2020
- RSIS
- Media Mentions
- In Indonesia, ‘Call to Jihad’ Videos by Hardline Cleric’s Fans Show Threat of Rising Fundamentalism
In Indonesia, ‘Call to Jihad’ Videos by Hardline Cleric’s Fans Show Threat of Rising Fundamentalism
Fans of controversial Indonesian hardline cleric Habib Rizieq Shihab have made videos that changed a verse in the Muslim call to prayer to a call for jihad, heightening fears that rising religious fundamentalism could snowball into conflict in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation. These videos are part of an escalation of tensions that have happened in the past few weeks between authorities and right-wing religious groups, triggered by the return of Rizieq Shihab, said Dr Alexander Arifianto, a Research Fellow at the RSIS. He added that many extremist groups used social media to spread the notion that they were being treated unfairly by authorities and to gain sympathy from their followers.
IDSS / Online / Print
Last updated on 02/12/2020
