Politics of Citizenship

In the history of Indonesian democracy, the name Buya Ahmad Syafi’i Maarif is often mentioned alongside the name Gus Dur Abdurrahman Wahid. Both of them are seen as two of the nation’s gurus who fight for a robust democracy and civic politics. Gus Dur, born from the Nahdhatul Ulama, and Buya Syafi’i Maarif, born from the Muhammadiyah movement, are two twin suns who guard Islam from misinterpretation that endangers the foundation of citizens’ equality of this nation.

The life and thoughts of Buya Syafi’i Maarif show that citizenship is not something given freely. Citizenship is a result of, and practiced through, the movement against injustice. Buya Syafi’i Maarif was very aware that citizenship is the result of the struggles of those at the grassroots, the middle class, as well as organizations and activists, to gain recognition of culture and social justice. The praxis of living from this awareness has often made him, after the death of Gus Dur, the pillar of hope for the protection of minorities whose civil rights and citizens’ rights are threatened and oppressed.

In February 2018, a man carrying a machete broke into the church of St. Lidwina Bedog, Sleman. He attacked the congregation who were carrying out weekly mass. Three people were injured, and statues of Jesus and the Virgin Mary in the church were damaged by the machete. As soon as he heard the news, without hesitation Buya Syafi’i Maarif rushed to the scene. “This is really hurting Indonesia. This is barbaric,” he said to the media who interviewed him. Not only visiting the church, he also immediately visited Father Karl-Edmund Prier SJ and two other victims at the Panti Rapih Hospital.

When Basuki Tjahaya Purnama’s “blasphemy” case became the center of public attention in 2016–2017, despite unpopular, Buya Syafi’i remained firm and steadfast in his view that Ahok did not blaspheme religion and could not be imprisoned under the blasphemy article. Harsh criticism from some muslim circles came to Buya Syafi’i for this attitude. But he didn’t budge, knowing that his attitude was needed to save one main foundation in the life of the nation: citizens’ equality must transcend the boundaries of grouping.

Buya Syafii’s concern about tribalism that threaten the foundation of the nation is also evident from his support when the Maarif Institute and Garin Nugroho worked on the film Mata Tertutup. The film, based on years of research data on radical Islamic groups, is an important mark of an awareness that erroneous religious understandings can also threaten our nation’s foundation.

The discussion organized by the Madani International Film Festival as a tribute to Buya Syafi’i Maarif is trying to see how his thoughts and life practices made an important contribution to the politics of citizenship in Indonesia. Now, what is the fate of citizenship politics today after his passing and what can be done to continue his legacy in the future?

Krisnadi Yuliawan