In 2011, thousands of ethnic Hmong Christians gathered in a district in northwest Vietnam to demand religious freedom. Their demonstration was eventually met by Vietnamese state security forces, and the area has been largely closed to visitors since.
Tag: Religion
Posted inFeature
The People of Poso
Many people lost their lives between 1998 and 2007 in Poso, Sulawesi. Now residents once swept up in the vortex of conflict choose to remember it with a dry humour—while still mindful of the potential for more violence.
To access this post, you must purchase a Membership or Temporary Access.
Posted inFeature
Brunei’s Tightening Grip on Freedom of Expression
Colonial era laws have been maintained and used to silence critics in Brunei. But it’s not just about the law; the entrenched fear of speaking out is so deep that people self-censor even if actual prosecution is uncommon.
To access this post, you must purchase a Membership or Temporary Access.
Posted inFeature
Akan Datang: It’s a long road to building a Malaysia Baharu
This week, Pakatan Harapan’s approval ratings take a nosedive in Malaysia, Aung San Suu Kyi heads to Cambodia, and tough conversations on campus sexual harassment are ongoing in Singapore.
Posted inFeature
“How Do You Interview God?”—Part Two
In August 2018 a Chinese-Indonesian Buddhist was sentenced to 18 months in prison for blasphemy. Now that her final appeal has been rejected by Indonesia’s Supreme Court, Meliana is speaking out against her conviction.
To access this post, you must purchase a Membership or Temporary Access.
Posted inFeature
Prabowo’s Identity Politics
Indonesian presidential hopeful Prabowo Subianto is hoping to sweep to victory when Indonesia goes to the polls in April 2019. But he faces strong competition across the archipelago, and not least of all in his hometown in Sulawesi.
To access this post, you must purchase a Membership or Temporary Access.
Posted inFeature
In Limbo: Indonesia’s Ahmadiyya community
The Ahmadiyya in Indonesia have long battled allegations of heresy and blasphemy, which has lead to decades of persecution across the archipelago. As the country looks to elect a new president on 17 April 2019, Indonesia’s Ahmadis face an uncertain future.
To access this post, you must purchase a Membership or Temporary Access.
Posted inFeature
Writing May 13: The Weight of Our Sky
Hanna Alkaf’s novel The Weight of Our Sky is the first Malaysian young adult novel to be published internationally. It also deals with mental illness and the race riots that took place in Kuala Lumpur on 13 May 1969.
To access this post, you must purchase a Membership or Temporary Access.
Posted inFeature
Ahok (or BTP?)’s Post-Prison Agenda
Accused of defaming Islam, former Jakarta governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama paid the price with a two-year jail sentence. Now free, is Ahok returning to politics reborn or avoiding controversy with a “safe” new career?
To access this post, you must purchase a Membership or Temporary Access.
Posted inFeature
Religion, Singapore, and a Cancelled Metal Show
The Singapore debut of Swedish black metal band Watain was abruptly cancelled after a petition by Christians gathered over 17,000 signatures. The cancellation highlights issues of stigma against the sub-culture, and religious influence in the city-state.
To access this post, you must purchase a Membership or Temporary Access.