From May 30 to June 1, 2025, Nadia Nurfitria, a PhD student from the Faculty of Islamic Studies (FIS), Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII), took part in the 4th International Critical Muslim Studies Conference, presenting her research on cancel culture and Muslim identity in Indonesia. The event took place at the TFF Riva Facility in Istanbul and was organized by the University of Leeds (UK) in collaboration with the International Islamophobia Studies Research Association (IISRA).

This international, interdisciplinary conference brought together prominent scholars and researchers from across the globe, including the United States, the United Kingdom, India, Turkey, Iran, Morocco, and Malaysia. The conference aimed to explore decolonial thought, resistance strategies, and the urgent need for reimagining political and social action in the 21st century, especially in spaces marked by oppression, displacement, and injustice.

Nurfitria’s presentation, titled “Exposing the Cancel Culture: Tracing Social Media, Identity, and Dialogue Among Indonesian Muslims,” focused on the rise of cancel culture as a tool for policing religious norms in the world’s largest Muslim-majority country. Her research revealed how social media is often used to “cancel” individuals or groups labeled as deviant from dominant interpretations of Islam. In many cases, this fuels division between majority and minority voices and undermines pluralism within the Muslim community.

She further explored how historical trauma, rooted in colonialism, religious conflict, and modern global Islamophobia, contributes to heightened emotional reactions among Muslims, particularly online. While these responses are often driven by a sense of collective solidarity, they can sometimes lead to exclusionary behavior and heightened intra-community tensions. 

According to Nadia, cancel culture in Indonesia remains under-researched, despite its growing impact on public discourse and Muslim social dynamics.

“This phenomenon not only risks dividing the Ummah but also challenges the global image of Indonesia’s moderate Islam,” she shared.

The conference provided a platform for Nurfitria to engage with a diverse academic audience, receive feedback, and contribute to global conversations on contemporary Muslim life and resistance. She expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to present alongside esteemed scholars and participants from various backgrounds and disciplines. Her participation was partially funded by the conference organizers.

By sharing her insights at such a high-level academic gathering, Nurfitria continues to contribute to FIS’s growing reputation as a hub for critical Islamic studies and global scholarly engagement.