The Propagation of Islam in the Indonesian-Malay Archipelago

Islamization of the Indonesian-Malay Archipelago was deliberately stymied by the colonial powers of the 16th century, violently by the Spanish in what became the Philippines, and 'administratively' by the Dutch, beginning with Maluku, the 'Spice Islands'. Where the Dutch claimed the 'right of conquest', they claimed 'the right to implant churches'.

But wherever they gained a foothold, Islamization was prohibited while Christianization was allowed. Their policy divided the islands, which is violently manifested today, five centuries later. For the Portuguese and the Spanish, the expulsion of the Muslim Moors from Granada in 1492 was to be emulated when Muslims were again encountered in Asia. Being few in numbers led to calculated cruelty to overawe their enemies.