Cases of religious violence up: Report

Adianto P. Simamora ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Thu, 12/11/2008 7:32 AM  |  Headlines

Religious violence is on the rise in the world’s largest Muslim country according to a report by the Wahid Institute, which places the blame on the government for its failing to crack down on radical groups.

The institute, a moderate Islamic think tank founded by former president Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid to promote pluralism in Indonesia, reported that religious freedom-related violence had increased throughout the country, with 232 cases reported this year compared to 197 last year.

Many of the incidences of violence were perpetrated by state authorities, according to the annual report released on Human Rights Day, Wednesday.

“The acts of violence against religious freedom were 60 percent carried out by civilian groups and 33 percent by the state,” the report said.

It said the state perpetrators included local administrations, police, legislators, courts and the Religious Affairs Ministry.

Civilian perpetrators were identified as members of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and the Communications Forum for Religious Harmony.

The frequency and severity of the violence increased from last year, the report said. It noted that the government had been weak in administering punishment, which it said set a worrisome trend for the future.

The institute said violations against religious freedom had come in the form of physical attacks, raids, destruction of houses of worship and accusations of apostasy and heresy.

The report recorded some 50 cases of violence this year, which were sparked by issuances of fatwa by the MUI against certain groups it branded “heretical or deviant”.

“MUI fatwa against specific groups are often used to legalize violence and stereotyping,” said Ahmad Suaedy, executive director of the Wahid Institute, which is headed by Gus Dur’s daughter, Yenny Zannuba Wahid.

Suaedy criticized the government for bowing to pressure from hard-liners to disband the Jamaah Ahmadiyah sect.

The government in June this year issued a joint ministerial decree banning Ahmadiyah from disseminating its doctrine.

“It is an example that the mobilization of masses can be used to force the government to take actions that can be conceived as constitutional violations. If (it allows) such practices to continue, the government is investing in a future disintegration of the nation,” Suaedy said.

In its report, the institute lists the “Monas tragedy” as the worst act of violence against pluralism in 2008, referring to an event in which activists from the National Alliance for Freedom of Religion and Belief were attacked by members of the FPI, injuring 70 people, including Suaedy.

National Commission on Human Rights chairman Ifdal Kasim warned that including religious affairs in state policies could lead to attacks against religious freedom.

“This contradicts the principles of human rights that oblige the government to protect its citizens, and (uphold) religious freedom,” he told a discussion on the report.

Comments (13)  |   Post comment
A  |   A  |   A  |   Mail to a friend  |  Printer Friendly Version |  Digg it!  |  Add to Del.icio.us!  |  Add to Reddit!  |  Stumble it!   |  Share on facebook  

Ketti (not verified) — Thu, 12/18/2008 - 10:19am

Case of religious violence will gradually threat the peace of the religious freedom in Indonesia if government doesn't solve the problem immediately. We have so many Ulamas in Indonesia and government, in this matter MUI, could ask all Ulamas in every areas to gather seeking the best solution for this big problem of our nation.

Iain (not verified) — Wed, 12/17/2008 - 11:56pm

Paul, it's easy to say there are crazies in all religions. That predetermines any negative conclusion on a religion to be irrelevant and no progress made.

What are you afraid of? If you're not a Muslim, are you afraid of offending your friends? Are you afraid people will think you are a bigot or racist?

If you are a Muslim, are you afraid that all you have believed all your life could be wrong? Are you afraid that you'll be alone in your opinion?

Are you afraid of asking yourself those questions and afraid to know the answers?

If you really believe all religions preach peace, then you haven't asked yourself those questions nor answered them honestly. Or you just know very little about them.

Paul E. Rantau (not verified) — Tue, 12/16/2008 - 6:35am

In all religions there are always tiny minorities of crazies who think that they could force their beliefs upon others. These zealots do not hesitate to use violence, destruction and even murders to carry out their stupid agenda.

In a civil society the government through the police force arrests and prosecutes anyone who breaks the law by creating public disorders, causing damage to properties (including places of worships), and creating mayhem. In a country where there is a law against racial and religious vilification people who commit such an act is brought to justice.

Indonesia is supposed to be a country where every citizen enjoys the protection of the law and that the police is sworn to uphold the law. The fact on the ground is that certain groups of citizens have been treated miserably by the government. Minorities in Indonesian have been subjected to systemic abuse by the government and the police. The authorities have looked the other way whenever the rights of these minorities are trampled by those religious crazies.

It's no wonder that those zealots have so far been able to do whatever dastardly deeds they want with impunity.

David, Jakarta (not verified) — Fri, 12/12/2008 - 9:00am

I agree wholeheartedly with Mahmood Rafiq's analysis. The Republic of Indonesia as we know it is in deep peril but it is not too late to save the day.

Edy suharto (not verified) — Fri, 12/12/2008 - 8:15am

i think, religious violence whatever the reason is not a jihad, but defend themselves is the right of each person to do.

if we are smart, let us invite everyone to goodness and truth in religion, but not with violence, as people created by God different one with the other.

Iain (not verified) — Fri, 12/12/2008 - 12:34am

Wow King... I bet you think Islam is the "religion of peace" too.

Palestine... the true Jihad? No... it is not the true jihad, it is the popular one. Why doesn't Jordan, Iraq, and Syria give back their Palestinian land too? Why does Isreal's right over Palestine be any less legitimate than Indonesia right over Papua and Turkey's right over Northern Cyprus?

Dave wave (not verified) — Fri, 12/12/2008 - 12:21am

well well here we are again with primative" man made -manifested"
religeon which is nothing more than superstition., and has zero merit. all religeon is "man made" and has no value at all. all that religeon does is provide low i.Q. answers to questions about where do we come from and where do we go when we die. its 100% fake and has zero value. its for primative throw back people.
get real and get with the times !!! its almost the year 2009 !
why do people believe in such primative ideas ???? stupid ! religeon kills more than any other thing on planet look at the numbers !!! absolutely primative. "should we all go back and live in caves?" or educate ourselves with comon scence.

Rafiq Mahmood, Bogor (not verified) — Thu, 12/11/2008 - 9:19pm

Commentators are right to worry about a holocaust - and perhaps even worse.

There are remarkable similarities between the nineteen thirties and present times. There is a deep recession. There are strong grievances about political injustices. The United States appears about to embark on another phase of isolationism and possibly protectionism.

And there is a simplistic fascist movement afoot ready to exploit people's anger with militarism, repression of free speech and expression and the use of minority scapegoats to direct its hatred against. Instead of a concocted secular mixture of anti-bolshevism, anti-semitism, nationalism and quasi-socialism the neo-fascists are using the far more potent and dangerous rallying cry of Islam.

It is already very late. If we remain silent we are tacitly participating in the torture of our brothers and sisters and the helter-skelter ride down into bloodshed and war.

Everyone who loves peace, freedom and humanity and who loves this country must no longer consent silently. We must protest ever louder - with civil disobedience and with strong voices proclaiming "NO HATRED IN OUR NAME." It is very, very late, but perhaps there are some seconds left. We may yet step back from the abyss.

John wilfred (not verified) — Thu, 12/11/2008 - 4:48pm

religious violence ????
i thought religion was supposed to be good .
i am Atheist and non violent.
that is actually illegal here as one must have a religion.
i will never have one thanks

King Crippler of Temasek (not verified) — Thu, 12/11/2008 - 2:19pm

I do not understand all those Muslims who are so extreme. First, it is sinful to kill innocent people and you will never go to heaven for that kind of sin. Secondly, who are you to declare Jihad? Jihad against your inner evil first before you go for Jihad against God's enemies. Any way, from my notion, the only true Jihad at the moment is at Palestine. Now that's a true Jihad. Why don't all the Indonesian Jihadists go to Palestine to salvage our brothers and sisters there? If you are brave enough, go and battle the Israel soldiers. Do not ever kill innocent people. What wrong have they done unto you?

12next ›last »

What's On

more
more
more