A Close Reading of Ahok’s Controversial Campaign Video

Abstract

With the election for Jakarta’s governor less than one week away, Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama and his running mate, Djarot Saiful Hidayat, have again sparked controversy, following the release of a campaign video that, like Ahok himself, has been accused of being “anti-Islam”. As Ahok awaits the verdict of his trial for blasphemy, everything he does in relation to Islam seems to be tainted.