The Language of Sectarianism

This research examines the transformation of anti-Shia sentiment in post-reformasi Indonesia as a form of sectarianism. Before the Reformasi era, anti-Shi’a sentiment primarily relied on theological expressions rooted in takfiri ideology. However, since 2012, anti-Shi’a sentiment has increasingly shifted toward a more political form. Using a qualitative method through a Critical Discourse Analysis approach, this study traces how anti-Shi’a diction, narratives, and actors have transformed alongside national political dynamics and global geopolitical developments. This article argues that the transformation of anti-Shi’a sentiment from a theological issue into a political issue constitutes a framing strategy shaped by changes in Indonesia’s political landscape and the geopolitical tensions surrounding the Syrian conflict. Although both forms of articulation represent expressions of sectarianism, each produces different social and political consequences. Theological sectarianism operates primarily within the internal sphere of Sunni Islam. In contrast, the political representation of Shi’a as a communist threat to Indonesian national unity positions Shi’a communities as enemies of the state. This shift in anti-Shi’a sentiment reflects the state’s failure to protect minority groups from the pressures of majoritarianism.