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eaders of the country'€™s two largest Muslim organizations have condemned a plan from the so-called Anti-Shia National Alliance (Annas) to declare an anti-Shia movement on Sunday in Purwakarta regency, West Java.

The declaration, the groups said, would hamper ongoing efforts to eradicate intolerance in the province, which has long been a hotbed of religious conflict.

Speaking to The Jakarta Post on Saturday, Nahdlatul Ulama'€™s (NU) deputy West Java chapter head Kiagus Zaenal Mubarok said that the campaign to disregard the existence of Shiites would potentially lead to wider conflict.

'€œEveryone can argue that his or her religious expression is the implementation of the religious teachings he or she believes in. However, they must also remember to implement the teachings within the context of nationhood,'€ he said.

'€œ[Indonesia] is a religiously diverse country. [Followers] of all religions and beliefs should create a joint agenda to formulate the ideal relationship between the state and religion.'€

Muhammadiyah West Java chapter head of religious outreach Saeful Abdullah similarly denounced Sunday'€™s event, arguing that it was everyone'€™s basic right to profess whichever religion she or he chooses.

'€œEvery individual has a right to embrace any religion or belief. We have to give everyone the same opportunities to practice his or her religious teachings or beliefs,'€ he said.

Last year, West Java, one of the country'€™s most populous provinces, ranked first for intolerance and violations of religious freedom, according to an annual report published by the Wahid Institute, a Jakarta-based Islamic think tank founded by late former president Abdurrahman '€œGus Dur'€ Wahid.

Long-standing conflict over the GKI Yasmin church in Bogor and the Filadelfia church in Bekasi, as well as violence against Ahmadiyah followers in several parts of the province, are among the unresolved problems that led to West Java being ranked as the country'€™s least tolerant region.

Purwakarta, located some 90 kilometers southeast of Jakarta, became the focus of religious tension after Annas announced earlier this week its plan to declare an anti-Shia movement at the Indonesian Education University (UPI) campus in Purwakarta city this weekend.

The majority of Indonesian Muslims are Sunnis, and adherents to the Ahmadiyah and Shia denominations form only very small minorities.

Despite efforts to promote tolerance from moderate groups like NU and Muhammadiyah, respectively the country'€™s largest and second-largest Muslim organizations, the incidence of violent acts against minority sects by hardline groups has mushroomed under the noses of law enforcers and regional administrations.

Earlier on Friday, Purwakarta Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Truno Yudo Wisno confirmed that the police had issued a permit for Annas'€™ event, arguing that the movement was regarded as a '€œmoral movement'€ without anarchic tendencies.

'€œThe event can proceed. As an institution, the organization may be anti-[Shia], but we consider this event a moral movement,'€ Truno told the Post.

The clearance was given despite the Purwakarta regent'€™s issuance of a circular reiterating the religious freedom of all residents.

Indonesian Ahlul Bait Association (IJABI) chairman Syamsuddin Baharudin, meanwhile, said the Shia organization welcomed discussion and debate of Shia teachings, but would not stand for slanderous accusations.

'€œIt is everyone'€™s right to agree or disagree with Shia teachings. However, people must not spread lies or use slanderous speech that could lead to hatred and hostility,'€ he said.