LONDON — An alarming rise in extremism and intolerance has
prompted a London-based rights group to express “deep concern” over
religious freedom and violence after a two-week fact-finding visit to
Indonesia. The team from Christian Solidarity Worldwide met
representatives of Catholic and Protestant churches, interfaith groups
and Muslim civil society groups in June, reported the Asian church
news agency UCA News. Christian Solidarity Worldwide joined three
Indonesian groups — the Wahid Institute, the Setara Institute for
Democracy and Peace and the Human Rights Working Group — in welcoming
the establishment of a human rights dialogue between Indonesian
authorities and the European Union, which is scheduled to start June
29. The fact-finding mission heard from the Setara Institute that it
had recorded more than 200 violations of religious freedom in 2009.
Among the violations were at least 30 attacks on churches or church
property. The Jakarta Christian Communication Forum said it had
recorded at least 20 violations so far in 2010. In addition to
Christians, the London rights group found that the Muslim Ahmadiya
sect faced “serious violence and discrimination” throughout the
country, particularly since the government banned it from propagating
its beliefs in 2008. “We applaud Indonesia’s long tradition of
religious pluralism and freedom, but we are deeply concerned that
intolerance and extremism are gaining ground, said Stuart Windsor,
Christian Solidarity Worldwide’s national director.
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