In their recommendations, the groups asked the President to scrap existing regulations which they said were discriminatory, such as the Blasphemy Law, the joint ministerial decree regulating the building of houses of worships and the joint ministerial decree on Ahmadiyah.
The Jakarta Post,
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono must use the final year of his second term to take radical measures to end discrimination against religious minorities, an NGO advocating religious freedom says.
“The President’s stern actions to address the issues of intolerance in the country could boost the waning public trust in him,” Setara Institute chairman Hendardi told a press conference on Thursday.
Setara had conducted a consultation meeting with members of religious congregations who have been persecuted and discriminated against due to weak law enforcement and the absence of legislation to protect their rights.
The meeting produced nine recommendations that were forwarded to Office of the Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister on Thursday.