Indonesians urge University of Pennsylvania to revoke scholarship for Jokowi’s daughter-in-law

Some Indonesians have launched a pressure campaign demanding the University of Pennsylvania scrap a scholarship offered to President Joko Widodo’s daughter-in-law over her “tone-deaf” stance on attempts to revise the country’s election laws that sparked violent protests.

In July, Erina Gudono said she secured the grant to pursue a master’s programme at the American institution’s School of Social Policy and Practice.

Erina thanked her husband Kaesang Pangarep for “supporting” her in an Instagram post, saying “Allah is so kind in providing sustenance for children and attending college at the same time in one year of marriage”.

She added that her parents also relocated to Pennsylvania after their marriage in December 2022.

Indonesian social media users called on the university to review its decision, accusing Erina of using her political connections to join the course.