Shi'a Islam in Indonesia represents a small minority in the largely-SunniMuslim country. Around one millionIndonesians areShias, who are concentrated aroundJakarta.[1] Indonesian Shia are found in areas ofJava,Madura andSumatra.
Certain Shia practices or beliefs may have influenced some historical Indonesian literature and customs. Shia Muslim merchants may also have visited and resided in precolonial Indonesia. Small groups of Shia Arabs lived in Indonesia since the 19th century. However, Shiism as an organized religion or native conversions to Shia Islam didn't begin in Indonesia until the 1970s, especially after theIranian Revolution.[2]
Among the Indonesian communities which practiseShiism are minority segments of theHadrami,Arab-descended Indonesians, who have a "small, but increasing, minority of Shia followers".[3] Another group are the Shia ofPariaman andBengkulu inSumatra, andSigli inAceh, who claim descent fromIndiansepoys, and are known as Sipahi people (orang Sipahi) or Kling people (orang Keling). The Sipahi people traditionally practise the Shiatabut ritual, though in Aceh it has been banned since 1953.[4]
The 2010 report to theUnited States Congress by theUnited States Commission on International Religious Freedom noted attacks against the Shia communities in Indonesia, particularly inEast Java and Madura in 2008. In one incident in Madura, local villagers surrounded Shia houses and demanded they desist religious activities, but the crowd was dispersed by local leaders and clergy.[5]
 | ThisIslam by country-related article is astub. You can help Wikipedia byadding missing information. |
 | This article related toShia Islam is astub. You can help Wikipedia byadding missing information. |
