Muslims Protest Christian Governor in Jakarta: 'It Is Forbidden to Have An Infidel' by Carey Lodge Christian Today |
"...The Indonesian constitution guarantees freedom of religious belief, and the country is predominantly moderate, however Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reports that militant Islamists have been able to push through a number of measures in recent years which could have "serious, long-term implications" on minority rights.
"A report released in February of this year found that rising religious intolerance across the country "poses a threat...to all Indonesians who value democracy, human rights, peace and stability."
"Political parties have "pandered to the Islamist narrative, perceiving a need to appeal to religiously conservative constituencies at a local level," CSW said, and "a variety of radical Islamist organisations have emerged and gained a disproportionate influence over policymaking and implementation."
"'Indonesia's pluralism is in peril, and almost all of Indonesia's different religious communities are affected... Religious intolerance, once thought to be confined to specific regions, now appears to be spreading nationwide," the organisation warned."