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all it ironic. But Jakarta governor-elect Anies Baswedan made it clear to the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), a main driver of a string of sectarian rallies surrounding the recent Jakarta election, that he wanted the group to be a guardian of pluralism.

Just two months before his inauguration, the former education minister, who rode on the wave of the country’s Islamic conservatism to win the poll, attended an anniversary gathering of the group and told it to improve its image, which is usually associated with intolerance and against diversity.

“I want to reiterate what I said before, that from now on, the FPI must prove itself as an organization that serves as a guardian of the country’s diversity,” Anies said in his speech on Saturday.

The FPI and other conservative Muslim groups held more than five rallies to protest statements from Basuki “Ahok” Tjahja Purnama, the first Christian of Chinese descent to become the governor of Jakarta who was also seeking reelection at the time.

Ahok lost the election to Anies and was sentenced to two years in prison for blasphemy.

Mostly trailing behind Ahok in electability during the election season, Anies, who gained a reputation for being a moderate Muslim scholar, chose to form an alliance with the FPI during his campaign.

Months since the election, Anies is at a crossroads on whether to continue to support the hard-line group, which also conducted a series of raids on civilians they considered to have slandered their leader, Rizieq Shihab.

The firebrand cleric was derided after he fled to Saudi Arabia during a police investigation into a pornography case in which he was implicated.

Rizieq has been named a suspect for his alleged steamy chats with Firza Husein, a collaborator in the rallies, that have spread on the internet.

By continuing his support for the group, Anies may risk severing ties with wider parts of society and hurt the image of the capital of the largest country in Southeast Asia that has prided itself for promoting tolerance.

Although Anies said he could ensure that the FPI would not be a threatening organization, and would protect the mandate of Pancasila, many doubt his commitment.

“Jakarta governor must be the governor of all and not only certain group of people,” Gun Gun Heryanto from the Political Literacy Institute told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

Gun hoped Anies would distance himself from the group after his inauguration in October.

State Islamic University (UIN) political expert Adi Prayitno said Anies displaying a warm relationship with the FPI would not help mend divisions in the city following the election. The minority, he said, would feel intimidated with Anies’ closeness to the FPI. “If this relationship continues, it will threaten pluralism in Jakarta,” Adi said.

Novel Bamukmin, the FPI’s Jakarta chapter secretary-general and staunch supporter of Rizieq, said accusations that the group was intolerant were nonsense, as the group supported unity and diversity in the country.

“From now until forever we will fight together to maintain the nation’s diversity because Islam is a blessing for the universe,” he said.

He only hoped that no more ulemas and Muslim activists were criminalized because they had defended the nation from colonialism, communists and those who offended religion. (hol)