Seminar on “Islamic Law and Populist Mobilisation in Contemporary Indonesia” | 29 August 2025

The UNE Indonesian Studies and the Asia Pacific Research Network (APN) are collaborating with Deakin University’s Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation (ADI) to host a (hybrid) seminar titled “How Islamic Law Is Used for Populist Mobilisation in Contemporary Indonesia.”

Guest speaker, Hasnan Bachtiar, a Graduate Researcher from the Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation/ADI, Deakin University, will present the research on this topic in person on:

📅 Friday, 29 August 2025
🕑 2:00–3:30 PM, followed by afternoon tea from 3:30-4:30 PM AEST
📍 A3 Lecture Theatre, HASS/Arts Building, UNE Campus

🌐 Online participation available via RSVP – https://une-au.zoom.us/meeting/register/Ll6wFU1KQkyhFeQ0Ho_tbg

How Islamic Law Is Used for Populist Mobilisation in Contemporary Indonesia

Abstract:

Sharia, or Islamic law, is deeply embedded in Muslim identity, religious practice, and political discourse. In contemporary Indonesia, it is not only a matter of faith but also a tool for political mobilisation—particularly among populist movements such as the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI). In this context, sharia has become intertwined with collective emotional dynamics. This presentation explores how sharia and emotions are strategically employed by the FPI to construct ideological narratives and mobilise Muslim voters. Drawing on 125 speeches by FPI leaders and 59 interviews with activists, this study reveals how sharia elements (such as fatwa, fiqh, and interpretations of the Qur’an and hadith) and emotions (including fear, resentment, sadness, love, hope, and excitement) underpin the group’s mobilisation strategies. While sharia is used to justify political positions—such as prohibiting the election of non-Muslim leaders and promoting “constitutional jihad” against corrupt elites—emotions are harnessed to evoke a sense of Muslim victimhood and to frame opponents as enemies of Islam. This emotionally charged, legally grounded discourse reinforces binary moral distinctions (halal–haram) that contribute to political polarisation.

About the speaker: Hasnan Bachtiar is a PhD candidate at Deakin University, Australia, and a lecturer at Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM), Indonesia. He worked as a Graduate Researcher at the Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation (ADI).