Coldplay Controversy: Islamic Hardliners Driving Indonesian Cancel Culture

Picture: Achmad Ibrahim / AP

In an article by Indonesia at Melbourne, Faris Ibrahim writes the increasing religious sentiments against LGBTQ ideology in Indonesia, which led to a movement of cancel culture.

The dominance of a Muslim identity as the majority religion in Indonesia is partly a consequence of rising Islamism since Soeharto’s resignation in 1998 and the arrival of democracy.

Religious polarization and majoritarianism has deep roots in Indonesia but it has certainly worsened over recent years. Perhaps it is the political incentives for outrage in the modern attention-based political discourse that is driving this polarisation.

The controversy surrounding the recent Coldplay concert can be seen as a largely rhetorical political manoeuvre launched by Islamists seeking to maximise their relevance in the lead up to an election – but that doesn’t mean there were not real costs borne by the LGBTQ community. When religious groups push majoritarian narratives, it is, unfortunately, minority groups – in this case the LGBT community – who are usually  framed as wrongdoers and threats to the majority identity.