Increased vigilance among leaders as well as political, religious and sociocultural elites at all levels – national, local and grassroots – are necessary.
By
AZYUMARDI AZRA
·4 minutes read
Despite their circumstantiality and isolation, the brutal physical attacks and stabbing cases targeting religious leaders, such as clerics and pastors, in several areas across Indonesia over the past two months must make us vigilant. Without intending any exaggeration, all who care about societal bonds and cohesion must be on their guard against such acts.
We need to be grateful that these incidents failed to cause intra-faith and interfaith conflicts. Swift responses from religious leaders, sociocultural elites and able citizens have prevented such conflicts from arising, conflicts which would only harm religious life as well as the life of the nation and the state.
Increased vigilance among leaders as well as political, religious and sociocultural elites at all levels – national, local and grassroots – are necessary. This is because these worrying incidents are just the tip of the iceberg that points to a broader problem.
Such worrying incidents are on the rise in the political years of 2018 (simultaneous regional elections in 171 regions) and 2019 (legislative and presidential elections) as a result of escalating political dynamics. As in previous political contests – the 2014 legislative and presidential elections as well as the 2016 and 2017 regional elections – various issues emerged that led to violence against religious leaders.
The recent attacks on religious leaders appear to be hate crimes. Different from regular crimes, hate crimes are based on prejudice, bias, enmity and hatred the perpetrators may feel toward individuals or groups they view as being different from them.
Hate crimes can manifest in various forms. First, it can be expressed in a verbal attack that escalates into physical intimidation and violence. Second, it can lead to psychological trauma in victims and, on a bigger scale, it can lead to unrest, fear, suspicion and hostility between communities.
Hate crimes commonly target individuals or groups of a different religion or faith, race, or an ethnic or socioeconomic background. Using a well-known term in Indonesia, hate crimes are often caused by tribal affiliation, religious, racial and inter-group (SARA) abuse.
Hate crimes are often related to political and economic factors. In contrast to the authoritarianism of the New Order, which was highly sensitive and repressive of SARA issues for fear that they could be used to disrupt national stability, the Reform era, with its democratic and liberal politics, seems to be fertile ground for hate crimes.
The political equilibrium in Indonesia, as yet unachieved even after almost two decades of a multi-party liberal democracy, has led to continued political discord and fragmentation. Under such conditions, some among the political elites and politically powerful have contributed to creating a conducive climate for hate crimes. This includes gestures or stances that seem to imply condonation of individuals and groups that engage in hate crimes.
Hate crimes are growing more rampant because of the spread of transnational religio-political ideologies. Certain elements within transnational thinking and practices can lead to the growth of hate crimes.
Eventually, hate crimes explode on social media. Social media has turned into a nearly uncontrollable medium for spreading hoaxes, slander, provocation and hate speeches that have in turn inspired many to commit hate crimes.
Clearly, hate crimes will not benefit religious life or the life of the nation and the state. If they are neglected and left uncontrolled, conflicts and disintegration will occur at all levels of religious, political and sociocultural life.
Hate crime prevention must be initiated by political, religious and sociocultural elites, starting from the national level and moving down to local and grassroots levels. Political elites and politicians participating in political contests must avoid issues that could encourage people to commit hate crimes.
At the same time, law enforcement that is firm yet measurable, just, transparent and credible is necessary. The police must investigate hate crimes quickly, but must not be hasty in unilaterally labeling perpetrators of hate crime as “mentally unstable”.
To make such claims, the police must involve professional psychologists and psychiatrists. If not, the public will soon create conspiracy theories or speculate on the existence of a mastermind that systematically assaults and persecutes religious leaders.
Hate crimes must also be responded to with comprehensive legal stipulations. Thus far, these stipulations exist in separate regulations that are inadequate in responding to hate crimes.
A special law is thus necessary to deal with hate crimes. This law must be firmer and harsher than laws on regular crimes, as hate crimes have highly destructive effects on religious life and the life of the nation and the state.
AZYUMARDI AZRA, Professor, Culture and Humanities School, Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University