In times of war, the world often fractures into sides. People rally behind flags, hashtags, ideologies—some out of conviction, others out of compassion.
While some choose the quiet path of neutrality, hoping not to fan the flames, many feel the need to speak out.
In the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, particularly the devastating war in Gaza, has become more than just a geopolitical crisis; it has morphed into a global litmus test of public sentiment. What was once a distant issue has seeped into social timelines, beauty pageants, brand endorsements, and personal identities.
And in Indonesia—where public opinion largely aligns with pro-Palestinian solidarity—support for Israel, even when religiously motivated, can carry serious social and political consequences.
This delicate tension recently came to a head with the disqualification of Merince Kogoya, a Miss Indonesia 2025 finalist, over a resurfaced Instagram post many deemed controversial.
Merince Kogoya is a young woman from Wamena, Papua Pegunungan.
Born on August 14, 2005, Merince was raised in Jayapura, and completed her early education at SD Negeri Inpres Hedam Abepura and later attended SMA Negeri 3 Jayapura. She was a high-performing student with an active extracurricular life—representing her school in the Provincial-level National Science Competition (OSN) in 2021 for Geography.
She also played basketball, a sport she pursued seriously during her high school years, proving her ability to balance both brains and athleticism.
At this time, Merince is pursuing a degree in Management at the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Cenderawasih in Jayapura.
Merince is more than just a beauty queen—she’s a leader on campus, having served as a member of the Student Executive Board (BEM), and was selected to take part in the International Research Week at UIN Suska Riau in 2024. Her involvement in community empowerment and advocacy for women’s leadership has been widely recognized within the local Papuan academic circles.
And now, at the age of 19, she caught national attention as one of the finalists representing her region in the Miss Indonesia 2025 beauty pageant. Her presence in the competition was celebrated as a proud moment for Eastern Indonesia, showcasing the vibrant and intellectual youth of Papua on a national stage.
For Merince, the talented young woman has to be disqualified from Miss Indonesia 2025 after a resurfaced video showed her waving the Israeli flag and praying—actions widely interpreted as political support for Israel amid the Gaza conflict.
In the post, Merince can be seen waving an Israeli flag and including the phrase “I Stand with Israel” in her Instagram bio.
The post, interpreted by many as political support during a time of heightened conflict in Gaza, ignited widespread controversy in Indonesia, a country that holds strong pro-Palestinian sentiments.
Merince clarified on Instagram that the video was an expression of her Christian faith—not a political stance. In her words: “I was simply practicing my faith as a follower of Christ by praying and offering blessings… an old video… interpreted in ways that misrepresent my beliefs.”
She noted that her Instagram bio still stated “I support Israel,” but emphasized this as a religious sentiment, not an endorsement of political policies.
Unlike in most other regions in Indonesia, Papua is predominantly Christian, especially in the highlands (including Wamena and Papua Pegunungan where Merince is from). While political awareness and global solidarity movements are present, some argue that the Israel-Palestine conflict doesn’t hold the same emotional or religious weight in Papua as it does in most parts of Indonesia.
In fact, within some segments of the Christian community, there is positive sentiment toward Israel due to biblical connections. Some Papuan Christians, like Merince, express solidarity with Israel as part of their faith—viewing Israel as "God’s chosen people," particularly in Evangelical or Pentecostal circles.
Voices from Papua urged caution. Activist Justin Renhald Mambrasar urged not to politicize her religious expression, encouraging understanding and respectful dialogue.
Despite clarifying the reason for her actions, the pressure from social media and public discourse ultimately led to her disqualification by the Miss Indonesia committee during the competition's quarantine phase.
The Miss Indonesia organization decided to remove her during the quarantine phase on June 26 and replaced her with the first runner-up, Karmen Anastasya, to continue representing Papua Pegunungan.
Indonesian netizens largely supported the decision to remove Merince from Miss Indonesia 2025, emphasizing that public figures—especially beauty queens—must exhibit empathy and awareness of geopolitical sensitivities.
"After four months of preparation… it is heartbreaking to see it taken away due to differing public opinions," she said.
In Indonesia, a Muslim-majority nation where support for Palestine is not only common but culturally and politically expected, expressions perceived as pro-Israel are often met with strong backlash. Within this context, neutrality is rare, and public personalities are expected to align with the prevailing sentiment in solidarity with the Palestinian cause.
This incident reignites debates around religious freedom versus political symbolism in deeply religious societies. Is waving a foreign flag inherently political if tied to faith? In this case, Merince’s religious expression was interpreted through political lenses.
Merince's fall from the pageant spotlight became a national talking point—one that touches on the fragile balance between faith, freedom of expression, and the expectations placed on public figures in a politically sensitive environment.
Merince journey to Miss Indonesia 2025 seemed like a natural progression—a young woman combining intellect, charisma, and representation.
However, her path took an unexpected turn because of one social media post.
It's worth noting that Merince Kogoya’s controversial “I Stand with Israel” video was posted about two years ago, well before the October 2023 incident.
