Away with Religious Symbols

SMEAR campaigns attacking presidential candidates seem to be a feature of every election. This time, both Prabowo Subianto and Joko Widodo have been hit over religious issues. Prabowo was targeted when he started to appear in public attending prayers with prominent political supporters.

Last October, Prabowo told Tempo about his religious convictions. "I believe all that I have today is God-given," he said. He admitted, however, that he had not been the most diligent with regard to religious activities. "I am not a person who devoutly follows the rituals," he said. Suhardi, chairman of Prabowo's Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party, affirmed that Prabowo was a Muslim and had undertaken the haj pilgrimage with his father-in-law, former President Suharto.

June 17, 2014

Tempo.co

Do religious symbols have an influence on presidential candidates' electability?
Yes
	(36.9%)	459
No
	(61.2%)	761
Unsure
	(1.9%)	23
Total	(100%)	1,243

SMEAR campaigns attacking presidential candidates seem to be a feature of every election. This time, both Prabowo Subianto and Joko Widodo have been hit over religious issues. Prabowo was targeted when he started to appear in public attending

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