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Anies-Islamists relations tested over ‘vice-friendly’ policies
There have been protests against the DWP since 2017, coincidentally the year Anies Baswedan was elected Jakarta governor, with some Islamist groups visiting the venue at the JIEXPO Kemayoran in Central Jakarta to protest.
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Raise your hands up: EDM fans let go of everything and entertain themselves during the recent DWP festival. (JP/Ben Latuihamallo)
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nly weeks after attending an Islamist rally during which he was greeted with shouts of “Anies for president!”-- a testament to his growing popularity among conservative voters -- Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan is now caught in a situation where he has to choose between maintaining the capital’s inclusivity and appeasing his Islamist base.
The governor, a Fulbright scholar with a PhD in political science from Northern Illinois University, was blasted by the so-called Islamic Youth Movement (GPI) for issuing a permit for an international electronic music festival in Jakarta.
The Islamic group said it believed that the 11th Djakarta Warehouse Project (DWP) was a hotbed of “decadent and immoral behavior” and should not be allowed to be held in the predominantly Muslim capital. Around 30 people gathered in front of Anies’ office three days before the festival to demand that the governor cancel the event.
Anies did not budge, angering some of his supporters. The festival, which was first held in 2017 shortly after Anies’ election, went smoothly without any incidents over the weekend.
“The governor is the most sinful one here. Anies is supported by the ummah [Islamic community] but he shouldn’t betray the ummah by allowing an immoral event,” GPI leader Rahmat Himran said.
The DWP controversy was a test case for the governor, who many believed won the gubernatorial election by riding a wave of sectarian sentiment against his Christian challenger, Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, who was at the time facing charges of defaming the Qur’an during a speech before the election.
Some analysts have lauded his decision to ignore the GPI’s concerns, saying that Anies, who won the support of Islamist groups after Gerindra Party leader Prabowo Subianto joined the Joko “Jokowi” Widodo administration, might have attempted to polish his image as a moderate Muslim.
