Source: Jakarta Globe
n Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation, government protection of religious freedom has been deteriorating, the United States says.
While the Indonesian government generally respects the freedom of the country’s six officially recognized religions, it has failed to overturn local regulations violating religious freedom, the US State Department said in a report released on Monday.
And despite the country’s tradition of religious pluralism, societal abuse against religious minorities is on the rise, it added.
“There were several significant lapses in enforcing protections,” it said.
The International Religious Freedom Report, which examined religious freedom in 199 countries and territories in 2011, highlighted discrimination and violence against religious minorities in Indonesia including Ahmadi Muslims and Christians, as well as atheists.
It cited a case in February 2011 when a mob of more than 1,500 people attacked Ahmadis in Cikeusik, Banten province, killing three and injuring five others. Videos of the attack posted online showed members of the mob beating the Ahmadis to death as the police failed to intervene.
While 12 members of the mob were brought to trial, the report said, “they were given disproportionately light prison sentences” of three to six months. By comparison, an Ahmadi injured in the attack was arrested, charged with provoking the attack and sentenced to seven months in prison, it said.
“Due to inaction, the government sometimes failed to prevent violence, abuse and discrimination against individuals based on their religious beliefs,” the report said. “In some cases, it failed to hold the perpetrators of violence accountable.”
Categories: Asia, Human Rights, Intolerance