Prabowo’s Islamist Connection: A Future Political Weapon?

Picture: Bertrand Guay/AFP

In a blog post by LSE Southeast Asia Blog, Nava Nuraniyah shares her thoughts on islamist groups’ ties with Prabowo and the impact of his presidency.

Today, the relationship between Prabowo and Islamists is more ambiguous. In the February 2024 election, Islamist groups including FPI endorsed Prabowo’s rival Anies Baswedan, whose rise to Jakarta governorship in 2017 was aided by Islamists. Many conservative Muslim voters felt betrayed by Prabowo’s shift to Jokowi, particularly his partnership with Jokowi’s son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka. Hence, Dasco and Habiburokhman’s recent visit to FPI leader was aimed at building a bridge with Islamist constituencies.

Early indications suggest that FPI and the 212 Alumni Brotherhood–organizers of the 2016 Islamist anti-Ahok mobilization in Jakarta—are divided between Prabowo and Anies. Some factions favour Prabowo due to his prior contributions, including in defending Islamist leaders from criminalization. Following the meeting in August, Gerindra politicians reportedly donated large sums to FPI and promised to relax the repressive measures that had intensified under Jokowi. This commitment could attract other Islamist groups which have faced restrictions since 2017.