Residents of Jakarta go to the polls tomorrow (19 April) to choose a governor in one of the closest and most controversial elections Indonesia has seen.Here are some of my recent pieces on the issues plaguing Ahok, the current governor, and his bid for election.What do blasphemy charges mean for Ahok? Indonesia@MelbourneBlasphemy charges against Ahok aContinue reading “Elections in Jakarta a fight to the end”
Category Archives: AHOK
Islamist rule by law in Indonesia
This article first appeared in Policy Forum, 3 December 2016. The great paradox of Indonesian democracy is on display for all the world to see. On one hand, there is greater freedom of expression and association for all. But on the other, this has given fuel to Islamists to espouse lawlessness and violence in the absenceContinue reading “Islamist rule by law in Indonesia”
What do the blasphemy allegations against Ahok mean?
Indonesian police last week declared Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, or Ahok, a suspect for blasphemy, over a speech he gave in which he quoted a verse from the Qur’an. In the wake of the police decision, Indonesia at Melbourne spoke to Dr Melissa Crouch, who has published widely on Indonesia’s Blasphemy Law(link is external) (Law No.Continue reading “What do the blasphemy allegations against Ahok mean?”
Blasphemy charges against Ahok a triumph for Islamists in Indonesia
Note: this article first appeared in the East Asia Forum One of the most high profile blasphemy allegations may soon be brought before a court in Indonesia. Thousands of Islamists turned out in Jakarta recently to demand that Basuki ‘Ahok’ Tjahaja Purnama, the Governor of Jakarta, be charged with blaspheming Islam. Some protestors displayed sinister signs, demandingContinue reading “Blasphemy charges against Ahok a triumph for Islamists in Indonesia”
Melissa Crouch 