Sulawesi : aspirations of local Muslims.

Abstract

In parts of Sulawesi, where Muslims made up the predominant majority, Islam has a long history. However, in a region that is rich with local customs, Islam is deeply entangled with local practices. There are many masyrakat adat (traditional community) that comprised of Muslims but engaged in local customs, which many Muslims outside the community labelled as heresy. Meanwhile, there exist several Islamist organizations that want to impose a puritan brand of Islam on the local communities in Sulawesi. The call for the implementation of Sharia in Sulawesi by these Islamists has been very vocal, particularly after the fall of Soeharto.