DOUBLE STANDARDS AND A NEW ERA OF THE RADICAL ISLAMIC MOVEMENT IN INDONESIA: A STUDY OF THE FRONT PEMBELA ISLAM (FPI)

This study aims to analyze the various attitudes and movements executed by the Islamic Defenders Front (Front Pembela Islam/FPI), a religious organization in Indonesia. Based on the conclusions of several scholars, FPI is categorized as one of the radical mass organizations that emerged after the reformation. This research uses a qualitative approach. Data collection was conducted by interviewing key figures of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI)., web information searching, literature review on FPI’s attitudes and movements. The analysis used was thematic analysis, involving steps such as familiarizing with the data, initial coding, reviewing and refining the themes, and writing the report. This study concludes that FPI uses double standards in carrying out its movements. In various forums, they claim to be loyal to Pancasila and the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI), but the vision and mission do not mention the word Pancasila, instead it mentions the word Khilafah. FPI’s double standards, as well as the practical preaching performed, have made FPI a radical mass organization that has the highest support in Indonesia. FPI also plays a role in the contemporary Islamism movement, such as the widespread application of the Shari’ah Regional Regulation, as well as the politicization of religion in the 2017 Jakarta Pilkada and the 2019 Presidential Election. Double standards, preaching practices, as well as the politicization of religion have brought Indonesia to an era which the author calls a new era of radical Islamic movement in Indonesia. This era has the potential to spread religious radicalism in Indonesia in a smoother manner, which could be more dangerous compared to more overt actions, such as the open attempts to establish a caliphate.