The impact of Hizb Ut-Tahrir's 2017 dissolution on its political activities in Indonesia

Abstract

Hizb ut-Tahrir is an Islamic transnational political group that has experienced many kinds of state repressive policies in many countries however all of these do not succeed to end this group political activity. Indeed, this group has expanded today to over 40 states with millions of members and supporters. Indonesia is one of the countries that recently decided to respond to this group coercively after this group has been free to carry out its activities in Indonesia for many years, including obtaining legal acknowledgment from the state. This research is a case study research that aims to identify the impact of state repression on Hizb ut-Tahrir`s political activities in Indonesia by explaining various state actions against Hizb ut Tahrir Indonesia and HTI`s responses to this. In doing this, data is collected through interviews with members of Hizb ut-Tahrir in Indonesia as well as a collection of literature from the government, media, and HT`s publication. This study used the theory of political opportunity structure to analyze the effect of state policies on the existence of HTI and its activities in Indonesia. This research found that the state carried out several types of repression against HTI such as issuing extraordinary laws; stigmatizing HTI as an anti-Pancasila and radical group; and intimidating those who join HTI by giving a warning for punishment. To respond to the state's actions, HT used two strategies, firstly, changing the arena of resistance where HTI fought through the court to challenge the state policy and countered the state narratives by the Internet and social media. Secondly, changing the group identities where HTI members formed groups, communities, or movements such as students, lawyers, women, clerics (Ulema) or preachers, and young people. The changing of Hizb ut-Tahrir`s strategy in Indonesia is to continue its political and ideological works without being disturbed by the regime and other counter-movements against it. With a social movement approach, this research concluded that state repression does not necessarily end the existence of a movement; rather it can seek other strategies to maintain its political struggle. In the Indonesian context, the state repression has proven not to kill HT, in fact, this group is still alive but with different faces and places of action. After all, this research contributes to integrating the social movement approaches on the issue of political Islam that has long been narrowly analyzed through security analyzes.