Shia Minority in Medan City

This article studies the Shia community movement in the city of Medan during the Reform Era. Specifically, the study aims to reveal the emergence, development, and activities of the Shia groups in Medan, the response of the Sunni majority group toward the Shia minority com­munity, and the dialogue between Sunni-Shia leaders. This study employs Bourdieu’s theory of cultural capital to analyze Shia community dynam­ics, and Sergey Melnik’s theory of interreligious dialogue to analyze Sun­ni-Shia dialogue. The findings reveal that the Shia community began to emerge and develop in the 1990s in the city of Medan, influenced ideo­logically by Iranian clerics through a group of local figures, including alumni of Iranian Islamic educational institutions. This community estab­lished foundations and organizations focusing on religious outreach and social activities. The presence of the Shia community elicited various re­actions from Sunni groups; some figures opposed Shi’ism, while others did not see it as an issue. Evidence shows that dialogue occurred between Sunni and Shiite leaders, with some advocating for unity while others emphasized the fundamental differences between the two sects. In addi­tion, this article argues that the Shia group in Medan has been relatively successful in introducing Shia traditions due to their effective use of eco­nomic, cultural and social capital, which strengthened their sectarian identity while also increasing acceptance from some Sunni figures. Sunni and Shia dialog includes polemical, cognitive, peacemaking, and partner­ship dialogue

Aesthetics · Art · Business · Political science · Asian Studies and History · Cultural and Religious Practices in Indonesia · Semiotics and Cultural Interpretation