Hate Speech on Cyberspace: Fueling the Rejection of Rohingya Refugees in Indonesia

Main Article Content

Haidar Masyhur Fadhil
Rizkiyatul Imtyas

Abstract

This research aims to trace and analyze how negative sentiments towards Rohingya refugees are disseminated on Social Media Platform X. This phenomenon is increasingly concerning as it involves not only negative sentiments but also the spread of hoaxes that can lead to discrimination and hatred. The study employs a qualitative approach with a descriptive-analysis method, focusing on content analysis of hate narratives emerging on Social Media Platform X. Collected data include comments, posts, and various forms of negative content targeting Rohingya refugees. I argue that hate speech towards Rohingya refugees tends to originate from anonymous fanbase accounts. The negative narratives from these accounts successfully shape public opinion and cultivate a xenophobic attitude among Indonesian netizens on Social Media Platform X. Furthermore, this hate speech contributes to the creation of a double standard between the issues of Palestine and Rohingya on Social Media Platform X, potentially influencing society's perception and attitude towards both issues.

Article Details

How to Cite
Fadhil, H. M., & Rizkiyatul Imtyas. (2024). Hate Speech on Cyberspace: Fueling the Rejection of Rohingya Refugees in Indonesia. Jurnal Penelitian, 21(1), 30–44. https://doi.org/10.28918/jupe.v21i1.2321
Section
Artikel

References

Abu-Ayyash, S. (2018). The Palestine Solidarity Movement in Ireland and the UK: Mediating and Framing Palestine Online.

Adel, S., & Numan, M. (2023). Online Fatwas in Pakistan using Social Networking Platforms. Ulumuna, 27(1), 201–226. https://doi.org/10.20414/ujis.v27i1.689

Amm, I., Lal Raina, R., & Faizia Siddiqui. (2016). Free vs. Hate speech on social media: The Indian perspective. Journal of Information Communication and Ethics in Society, 14(4), 1–19.

Ascher, D. L., & Umoja Noble, S. (2019). Unmasking Hate on Twitter: Disrupting Anonymity by Tracking Trolls. In D. L. Ascher & S. Umoja Noble, Free Speech in the Digital Age (pp. 170–188). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780190883591.003.0011

Azzuhri, A., & Fauzi, A. (2023, December 29). “Our country is in danger”: What is behind the university students’ “mob attack” on Rohingya refugees in Indonesia? Australian Broadcasting Corporation. https://www.abc.net.au/religion/anti-rohingya-sentiment-and-mob-attack-in-aceh/103271832

Cinelli, M., De Francisci Morales, G., Galeazzi, A., Quattrociocchi, W., & Starnini, M. (2021). The echo chamber effect on social media. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(9), e2023301118. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2023301118

Cohen‐Almagor, R. (2011). Fighting Hate and Bigotry on the Internet. Policy & Internet, 3(3), 1–26. https://doi.org/10.2202/1944-2866.1059

Eberl, J.-M., Meltzer, C. E., Heidenreich, T., Herrero, B., Theorin, N., Lind, F., Berganza, R., Boomgaarden, H. G., Schemer, C., & Strömbäck, J. (2018). The European media discourse on immigration and its effects: A literature review. Annals of the International Communication Association, 42(3), 207–223. https://doi.org/10.1080/23808985.2018.1497452

Elzahraa, F. (2020). Social Media Role in Relieving the Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis. New Media and Mass Communication, 87. https://doi.org/10.7176/NMMC/87-04

Espenshade, T. J., & Calhoun, C. A. (2024). An Analysis of Public Opinion toward Undocumented Immigration.

Fadhil, H. M. (2023, December 27). Hate speech fuels rejection of Rohingya refugees. The Jakarta Post. https://www.thejakartapost.com/opinion/2023/12/30/hate-speech-fuels-rejection-of-rohingya-refugees.html

Fahmi, I. (2023, November 7). Tren Perbincangan terkait Aksi Bela Palestina Mendapat Atensi Netizen. X Platform. https://twitter.com/ismailfahmi/status/1721876588323803570

Fahmi, I. (2023, December 17). Ada Apa dengan Rohingya: Analisis Drone Emprit. Slide Share. https://www.slideshare.net/IsmailFahmi3/ada-apa-dengan-rohingya-analisis-drone-emprit

Hossain, A. (2021). Say “NO” Racism towards Rohingya Refugee. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.4574531

Kironska, K., & Peng, N.-N. (2021). How state-run media shape perceptions: An analysis of the projection of the Rohingya in the Global New Light of Myanmar. South East Asia Research, 29(1), 16–31. https://doi.org/10.1080/0967828X.2020.1850178

Kohl, U. (2018). Islamophobia, ‘gross offensiveness’ and the internet. Information & Communications Technology Law, 27(1), 111–131. https://doi.org/10.1080/13600834.2017.1393936

Lanti, I. G. (2023). Political Islam in Indonesia: Impact of Current Israel-Hamas War in Gaza. RSIS Commentaries, 172–23.

Mamis, S., Rustan, A. S., Arnus, S. H., & Basri, H. (2024). Framing Media Dan Dinamika Opini Publik TerkaitPengungsi Rohingya Di Indonesia: Perspektif UNHCR Dan Otoritas Aceh Dalam Sorotan Kritis. Wardah, 24(2), 137–163. https://doi.org/10.19109/wardah.v24i2.21384

Miller, S. D. (2018). Xenophobia toward Refugees and Other Forced Migrants. 5.

Misago, J. P., Freemantle, I., & Landau, L. B. (2015). Protection from xenophobia.

Pohan, S., & Lbs, M. A. H. (2022). Use of anonymous social media accounts as self-disclosure media for Generation Z on postmodernism. Bricolage : Jurnal Magister Ilmu Komunikasi, 8(2), 163. https://doi.org/10.30813/bricolage.v8i2.3351

Rashid, N. Z., & Saidin, M. I. S. (2023). ‘#SayNoToRohingya’: A critical study on Malaysians’ amplified resentment towards Rohingya refugees on Twitter during the 2020 COVID-19 crisis. The Round Table, 112(4), 386–406. https://doi.org/10.1080/00358533.2023.2244287

Rostanti. (2023, December 13). Julid Fi Sabilillah, Perang Online Pendukung Palestina yang Bikin Zionis Kelimpungan. Republika.

Siti Nurnadilla, & Jamil. (2023). Discourse in the digital age. In E. Esposito & M. KhosraviNik, Discourse in the Digital Age (1st ed., pp. 1–17). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003300786-1

Sopamena, C. A. (2023). Pengungsi Rohingya Dan Potensi Konflik & Kemajemukan Horizontal Di Aceh. Jurnal Caraka Prabu, 7(2), 85–115. https://doi.org/10.36859/jcp.v7i2.1927

Sunstein, C. R. (2020). The Law of Group Polarization. John M. Olin Law & Economics Working Paper 91, 1–30.

Tafira, K. (2011). Is xenophobia racism? Anthropology Southern Africa, 34(3–4), 114–121. https://doi.org/10.1080/23323256.2011.11500015

Takikawa, H., & Nagayoshi, K. (2017). Political polarization in social media: Analysis of the “Twitter political field” in Japan. 2017 IEEE International Conference on Big Data (Big Data), 3143–3150. https://doi.org/10.1109/BigData.2017.8258291

Ulya, H., & Ayu, K. R. (2023). Gerakan Sosial Digital; Boikot-Divestasi-Sanksi (BDS) Terhadap Isu Israel-Palestina di Media Sosial.

Watts, M. W. (1996). Political Xenophobia in the Transition from Socialism: Threat, Racism and Ideology among East German Youth. Political Psychology, 17(1), 97. https://doi.org/10.2307/3791945

Yakushko, O. (2009). Xenophobia: Understanding the Roots and Consequences of Negative Attitudes Toward Immigrants. The Counseling Psychologist, 37(1), 36–66. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000008316034

https://twitter.com/sosmedkeras/status/1739645215781388411

https://twitter.com/kegblgnunfaedh/status/1738876577520517363 https://twitter.com/haditricoswara/status/1735676283034489232 https://twitter.com/700juta/status/1732741206927643126 https://twitter.com/sosmedkeras/status/1738224226480664730 https://twitter.com/anadoh1245/status/1738230529022111819 https://twitter.com/MasMasBiassaa/status/1732800094985175237 https://twitter.com/Ryuni_15/status/1726138262069432659 https://twitter.com/wiratamiang/status/1727003892721021293 https://twitter.com/BashirRidho/status/1721450230590460411