Rejection of Rohingya in Aceh: The Role of Ulama and Tolerance in Acehnese Society
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26811/peuradeun.v13i3.1589Keywords:
Rohingya, Rejection, Ulama, Tolerance, AcehAbstract
The displacement of Rohingya refugees remains a pressing humanitarian issue, particularly in Aceh, Indonesia, where initial expressions of solidarity have shifted towards growing resistance. This study examines the factors driving this shift and the role of ulama in mediating social tensions amid economic anxieties and digital misinformation. Using a qualitative approach, primary data were collected through fieldwork conducted in Aceh between November 2023 and March 2024, including in-depth interviews with ulama, community leaders, and government officials, as well as document analysis. The findings reveal that while Aceh’s cultural and religious traditions emphasize hospitality, economic instability, resource competition, and misinformation have fueled skepticism toward continued refugee acceptance. Ulama, traditionally influential in shaping public discourse, face increasing challenges from digital narratives that undermine their authority and disrupt established mechanisms for building tolerance. This study highlights the urgent need for structured refugee policies, stronger cross-sectoral collaboration, and digital engagement strategies for ulama to maintain their influence. Without strategic interventions, Aceh’s long-standing reputation for tolerance may deteriorate, underscoring the importance of adaptive governance in refugee management.
References
Ahsan Ullah, A. K. M. (2016). Rohingya Crisis in Myanmar. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 32(3), 285–301. https://doi.org/10.1177/1043986216660811
Al-Asyi, Y. al-Q. (2019). Dahsyatnya Tsunami Aceh: Sejarah, Fakta, Faktor dan Testimoni. Nuha Medika.
Alwi, S., Mukhlis, Siregar, Z. A. B., Iqbal, M., & Fithra, H. (2024). Community Psychology and the Acceptance of Rohingya Refugees in Aceh: Local Identity, Humanitarian Needs, and Islamic Law. Hikmatuna: Journal for Integrative Islamic Studies, 10(1), 15–27. https://doi.org/10.28918/hikmatuna.v10i1.6899
Amiruddin, H. (2004). Biografi Ulama-Ulama Aceh Abad XX. BKSNT.
Ansar, A., & Md. Khaled, A. F. (2021). From Solidarity to Resistance: Host Communities’ Evolving Response to the Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh. Journal of International Humanitarian Action, 6(1), 16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41018-021-00104-9
ANTARA News. (2006). Deplu Cari Tahu Identitas 77 Warga Myanmar - ANTARA News. https://www.antaranews.com/berita/32405/deplu-cari-tahu-identitas-77-warga-myanmar
Atin, A., Hadiwijoyo, S. S., & Simanjuntak, T. R. (2024). Implementation of the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) Blueprint by Indonesia in Handling Rohingya Refugees in Aceh (Community Security Perspective). Jurnal Indonesia Sosial Sains, 5(10), 2776–2794. https://doi.org/10.59141/jiss.v5i10.1485
Batubara, N. F. (2023). Penolakan Aceh dan Dampak Ekonomi di Balik Tragedi Rohingya. tirto.id. https://tirto.id/penolakan-aceh-dan-dampak-ekonomi-di-balik-tragedi-rohingya-gSHk
BBC. (2019). UNHCR: Lebih dari 70 Juta Orang Mengungsi di Seluruh Dunia - BBC News Indonesia. bbc.com. https://www.bbc.com/indonesia/dunia-48700295
BBC News Indonesia. (2023). ‘Bara’ di Balik Penolakan Pengungsi Rohingya di Aceh, ‘Saya Sebelas Hari di Laut, Makan Sehari Sekali’. bbc.com. https://www.bbc.com/indonesia/articles/cxe1j526e6vo
Berty, T. T. S. (2023, November). Asal-usul Etnis Rohingya yang Ditolak Kedatangannya oleh Warga Aceh.
Betts, A., Stierna, M. F., Omata, N., & Sterck, O. (2022). Social Cohesion and Refugee-Host Interactions: Evidence from East Africa.
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2019). Reflecting on Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 11(4), 589–597. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2019.1628806
Darnela, L. (2021). Islam and Humanity: Commodification of Aid for Rohingya in Aceh. Al-Jami’ah: Journal of Islamic Studies, 59(1), 57–96. https://doi.org/10.14421/ajis.2021.591.57-96
Fitriani, M. I. (2023). Islamic Religious Education and Interreligious Tolerance in a Multi-Religious Country: Challenges, Typological Implications, and the Proposed Strategy. Ulumuna, 27(1), 416–449. https://doi.org/10.20414/ujis.v27i1.765
Febriandi, Y. (2023). What’s driving Aceh’s Backlash Against Rohingya Refugees? - Indonesia at Melbourne. Indonesia at Melbourne. https://indonesiaatmelbourne.unimelb.edu.au/whats-driving-acehs-backlash-against-rohingya-refugees/
Hamzah, M. (2024). Muslim Rohingya Ditolak di Indonesia, Mangapa? (Zulfata, Ed.; I). Bandar Publishing.
Hossain, A. N. M. Z. (2020). Rohingya Refugee and Resettlement Nexus in Bangladesh: Why it Become a Research Agenda? Journal of Social and Political Sciences, 3(3), 868-874. https://doi.org/10.31014/aior.1991.03.03.219
Husin, A. (2017a). Conflict and Nonviolence: Ulama in the Aceh Peace Process. In The Promise of Reconciliation? (pp. 43–72). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315134291-3
Ichwan, M. N., Pabbajah, M., & Amin, F. (2024). Digitization of Religious Tafsir: The Fading of Indonesian Ulama Authority in Post Truth Era. Jurnal Studi Ilmu-Ilmu Al-Qur’an Dan Hadis, 25(2), 320–345. https://doi.org/10.14421/qh.v25i2.5545
Irwanysah, I., & Al Asya’ari, A. A. (2022). Rohingya Muslims in Indonesia: Interaction, Stigmatization and Religious Response. FIKRAH, 10(2), 241-258. https://doi.org/10.21043/fikrah.v10i2.16287
Ja’far, Syahnan, M., Asrul, Dahlan, Z., & Ritonga, S. (2022). Discovering The Legacy of Mandailing Ulama: Education, Intellectuals, and Politics in North Sumatra in the Early 20th Century. Ulumuna, 26(2), 296–336. https://doi.org/10.20414/ujis.v26i2.502
Khairi, A., Zainal, S., Tjoetra, A., & Ab. Wahab, A. (2024). From the Sea to the Land: Navigating the Ambiguity of Rohingya Refugees Boat People in Malaysia and Indonesia. Proceedings of International Conference on Social Science, Political Science, and Humanities (ICoSPOLHUM), 4, 00024. https://doi.org/10.29103/icospolhum.v4i.397
Komarudin, U., & Ayuningtyas, D. (2024). Indonesia’s Responses Towards Rohingya Refugees: Political Perspective. JWP (Jurnal Wacana Politik), 9(2), 112-120. https://doi.org/10.24198/jwp.v9i2.54009
Kustiawan, M. T., Rasidin, M., Witro, D., Busni, D., & Jalaluddin, M. L. (2023). Fragmentation of Dakwah Media: Exploring Exclusive Islam in Indonesia Post-Reform Popular Islamic Novels. Ulumuna, 27(1), 258–290. https://doi.org/10.20414/ujis.v27i1.530
Leider, J. (2018). Rohingya: The History of a Muslim Identity in Myanmar. In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Asian History. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190277727.013.115
Médecins Sans Frontières. (2017). MSF: At Least 6,700 Rohingya Killed During Attacks in Myanmar. https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/
Mohajan, H. K. (2018). History of Rakhine State and the Origin of the Rohingya Muslims. IKAT: The Indonesian Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, 2(1), 19-46. https://doi.org/10.22146/ikat.v2i1.37391
Nariswari, A. V. (2023). Jejak Sejarah Etnis Rohingya, Ini Alasan Warga Aceh Menolak Kedatangan Mereka. Suara. https://www.suara.com
Nasution, I. F. A., Wildan, T., Anzaikhan, M., & Faidi, A (2024). Mobilizing Intolerance: Teungku Dayah (Ulama) and Religious Discourse in Aceh, Indonesia. Journal of Al-Tamaddun, 19(1), 145–156. https://doi.org/10.22452/JAT.vol19no1.11
Oktavian, A., Jamaludin, M., & Hossain, M. B. (2023). Non-Interference Principle of Asean in The Rohingya Crisis: International Human Rights Law as Alternative Foothold. Intermestic: Journal of International Studies, 7(2), 618-636. https://doi.org/10.24198/intermestic.v7n2.11
Primadi, H. (2019). Progres Penanganan Pengungsi Rohingya Oleh Pemerintah Indonesia di Provinsi Aceh Tahun 2016-2018. EJournal Ilmu Hubungan Internasional, 7(1), 299–308. https://ejournal.hi.fisip-unmul.ac.id/site/?p=2857
Puspapertiwi, E. R., & Hardiyanto, S. (2023). Mengenal Etnis Rohingya dan Sejarah Pengungsiannya dari Myanmar. Kompas Pedia. https://www.kompas.com
Rahman, M., Yulia, Y., & Mukhlis, M. (2022). Refugee Settlement Based on Local Custom Values (Study of Rohingya Refugees in Aceh). Proceedings of Malikussaleh International Conference on Law, Legal Studies and Social Science (MICoLLS), 2, 00048. https://doi.org/10.29103/micolls.v2i.122
Sahlan, M., Amin, K., Kamil, A. I., & Ilham, I. (2019). Ulama: Roh Kebudayaan untuk Rekonsiliasi di Aceh. Jurnal Sosiologi USK (Media Pemikiran & Aplikasi), 13(2). https://doi.org/10.24815/jsu.v13i2.18460
Sahlan, M., Fajarni, S., Ikramatoun, S., Kamil, A. I., & Ilham, I. (2019). The Roles of Ulama in the process of Post-Conflict Reconciliation in Aceh. Society, 7(2), 251–267. https://doi.org/10.33019/society.v7i2.106
Sudarjad, S. (2023). Rohingya, Tragedi Semenyih, dan Yahudi Pesek. https://news.detik.com/kolom/d-7116046/rohingya-tragedi-semenyih-dan-yahudi-pesek
Syafieh, S., Muhaini, M., & Syufyan, S. (2022). Authority and Ulama in Aceh: The Role of Dayah Ulama in Contemporary Aceh Religious Practices. Jurnal Theologia, 33(2), 151–178. https://doi.org/10.21580/teo.2022.33.2.13455
Syarifuddin, S., Cahyono, A. S., & Pahrijal, R. (2023). Analisis Kebijakan Negara Indonesia dalam Penyelesaian Kasus Pengungsi Rohingya dari Perspektif Masyarakat. Jurnal Hukum Dan HAM Wara Sains, 2(12), 1159-1168. https://doi.org/10.58812/jhhws.v2i12.870
Szilágyi, B. (2021). Refugee Camp: A Tool for Dignity and Security. Belügyi Szemle, 69(4. ksz.), 31–52. https://doi.org/10.38146/BSZ.SPEC.2021.4.3
Thaib, S. I., Bin Ibrahim, M., Sufi, N. M., Abu Bakar, N., & Long, A. S. (2024). Sharia Law and Community Response to Rohingya Refugees in Aceh. PETITA: Jurnal Kajian Ilmu Hukum dan Syariah, 9(2), 525- 539. https://doi.org/10.22373/petita.v9i2.336
Tran, T., Valecha, R., Rad, P., & Rao, H. R. (2021). An Investigation of Misinformation Harms Related to Social Media during Two Humanitarian Crises. Information Systems Frontiers, 23(4), 931–939. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10796-020-10088-3
UNHCR. (2022). Rohingya Refugee Crisis Explained. USA for UNHCR, The UN Refugee Agency. https://www.unrefugees.org/news/rohingya-refugee-crisis-explained/#Rohingya
UNHCR Indonesia. (2023). Perkembangan Terbaru Mengenai Pengungsi Rohingya di Aceh, Indonesia. https://www.unhcr.org/id/16531-perkembangan-terbaru-mengenai-pengungsi-rohingya-di-aceh-indonesia.html
UNHCR News. (2016). Dengan 1 dari 113 Orang yang Terkena Dampaknya, Perpindahan terpaksa Mencapai Rekor Tertinggi. In UNHCR News.
Utama, V. R. (2024). The Local and International Dimensions of Aceh’s Rohingya Crisis. The Diplomat. https://thediplomat.com/2024/01/the-local-and-international-dimensions-of-acehs-rohingya-crisis/
VOA Indonesia. (2020). UNHCR: Krisis Pengungsi di Seluruh Dunia Semakin Memburuk. voaindonesia.com
Weber, M. (1963). Theory of Social and Economic Organization. The Free Press.
Weber, M. (1964). The Sosiology of the Religion. Beacon Press.
Yonada Nancy. (2023). Kenapa Etnis-Agama Rohingya Berbeda dengan Mayoritas di Myanmar? tirto.id - Sosial Budaya. https://tirto.id/kenapa-etnis-agama-rohingya-berbeda-dengan-mayoritas-di-myanmar-gSGT
Yunus, F. M. (2020). Teungku Dayah Syariat Islam dan Kontestasi Organisasi di Aceh. Bandar Publishing.
Zafri, Z. (2017). Yayasan Geutanyoë di Konferensi Penguatan Perlindungan terhadap Pengungsi, Australia.
Zakir Hossain, A. N. M. (2022). Recent Development and Emerging Trends of Research on Rohingya Refugee Crisis (1993-2020): A Bibliometric Analysis. International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning, 17(3), 849–862. https://doi.org/10.18280/ijsdp.170315
Zulkarnain, Z., & Kusumawardhana, I. (2020). Bersama untuk Kemanusiaan: Penanganan Lintas Sektor terhadap Masalah Pengungsi Rohingya di Aceh 2015. Jurnal HAM, 11(1), 67-83. https://doi.org/10.30641/ham.2020.11.67-83
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Firdaus M. Yunus, Siti Ikramatoun, Taslim HM. Yasin, Robby Habiba Abror (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms: (1) Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC-BY-SA) that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal; (2) Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal; (3) Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website), as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
