Indonesian politics roiled by return of radical firebrand imam Rizieq

(ANALYSIS) The recent return from Saudi Arabia of Islamist firebrand Muhammad Rizieq Shihab sparked massive welcoming crowds, threatens to reform old political alliances and may even create new ones.

Indonesian presidential candidates duel over who’s a better Muslim

(NEWS ANALYSIS) The country’s incumbent president Jokowi, seen as a liberal “metalhead of state”, chose conservative Muslim cleric Ma’ruf Amin as his running mate to win votes from an increasingly conservative Indonesia. Meanwhile, Jokowi’s challenger Subianto has been wooing radical Islamist groups.

BACKGROUND: Christian Governor's 'Blasphemy' Vs. Indonesian Tolerance

The shocking ruling against Ahok reveals the tension between Indonesia's policy of unity in diversity and blasphemy laws still in force. Indonesia may be in danger of losing the qualities that distinguish it from the rest of the Islamic world as a model of democracy and pluralism.

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