H U M A N R I G H T S IN RELIGION’S NAME Abuses against Religious Minorities in Indonesia WATCH In Religion’s Name Abuses against Religious Minorities in Indonesia Copyright © 2013 Human Rights Watch All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America ISBN: 1-56432-992-5 Cover design by Rafael Jimenez Human Rights Watch is dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world. We stand with victims and activists to prevent discrimination, to uphold political freedom, to protect people from inhumane conduct in wartime, and to bring offenders to justice. We investigate and expose human rights violations and hold abusers accountable. We challenge governments and those who hold power to end abusive practices and respect international human rights law. We enlist the public and the international community to support the cause of human rights for all. 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For more information, please visit our website: http://www.hrw.org FEBRUARY 2013 1-56432-992-5 In Religion’s Name Abuses against Religious Minorities in Indonesia Map .................................................................................................................................... i Glossary ............................................................................................................................. ii Summary ........................................................................................................................... 1 Key Recommendations ....................................................................................................... 6 Methodology ...................................................................................................................... 8 I. Religion and the State since Independence ...................................................................... 9 Post-Independence Debates .................................................................................................... 9 Religion under Suharto ........................................................................................................... 12 Post-Suharto Developments ................................................................................................... 14 Religious Diversity in Indonesia .............................................................................................. 16 Sunni Muslims and Sunni Groups ........................................................................................... 17 Shia Muslims ........................................................................................................................ 20 Christians ............................................................................................................................... 21 Hindus ................................................................................................................................... 23 Buddhists............................................................................................................................... 23 Ahmadiyah ............................................................................................................................. 24 II. Laws and Institutions that Facilitate Discrimination and Abuse .................................... 26 The 2000 Constitutional Amendment ...................................................................................... 27 The 1965 Blasphemy Law ....................................................................................................... 28 Decrees on Houses of Worship ................................................................................................ 32 1969 Decree on Houses of Worship .................................................................................. 33 2006 Decree on Houses of Worship .................................................................................. 34 2008 Anti-Ahmadiyah Decree ........................................................................................... 36 Religious Harmony Bill ............................................................................................................ 39 Religious Institutions in Indonesia .......................................................................................... 39 Ministry of Religious Affairs .............................................................................................. 39 Bakor Pakem .................................................................................................................... 42 Indonesian Ulama Council (Majelis Ulama Indonesia, MUI) ............................................... 43 Religious Harmony Forum ................................................................................................. 47 III. House of Worship Difficulties, Discrimination, and Violence ........................................ 50 Attacks on Houses of Worship ................................................................................................ 50 GKI Yasmin, Bogor .................................................................................................................. 51 HKBP Filadelfia, Bekasi ........................................................................................................... 53 From Java to Timor, Closures of Houses of Worship .................................................................. 54 Attack on Shia Boarding School .............................................................................................. 58 Prosecutions under Blasphemy and Conversion Laws ............................................................ 60 Prosecutions under the 2008 Anti-Ahmadiyah Decree ............................................................ 62 Harassment of Ahmadiyah School Children ............................................................................. 65 Discriminatory Administrative Policies ................................................................................... 66 IV. State Failure to Protect Religious Minorities from Violence ........................................... 71 Police Siding with Islamist Militants ........................................................................................ 73 Police Failure to Prevent Violence Despite Warning Signs ........................................................ 75 Blaming Religious Minorities .................................................................................................. 81 Failure to Investigate Violence ............................................................................................... 84 Arson Attacks in Sumatra ....................................................................................................... 86 Judicial System Failures ......................................................................................................... 88 Recent Attacks on Freedom of Expression .............................................................................. 90 V. Role of the International Community ............................................................................. 93 The United States, European Union, Australia, and Other Trade Partners and Donors .............. 94 VI. Recommendations ....................................................................................................... 98 To the Government of Indonesia ............................................................................................ 98 To the President .............................................................................................................. 98 To the House of Representatives..................................................................................... 100 To the National Police .................................................................................................... 100 To the Ministry of Religious Affairs .................................................................................. 101 To the Ministry of Home Affairs ....................................................................................... 102 To the United States, European Union Member States, Australia, Japan, and other Concerned Governments ....................................................................................................... 102 Appendix I: Population in Indonesia by Religion 2010 ..................................................... 103 Appendix II: Number of Houses of Worship in Indonesia 2010 .......................................... 105 Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................... 107 © Human Rights Watch I Glossary Ahmadiyah An Islamic religious revivalist movement, founded in Qadian, Punjab, originating with the teachings of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835–1908). In Arabic, Ahmadiyah means “followers of Ahmad” and adherents are sometimes called “Ahmadis.” It began its presence in the Indonesian Sumatra Island in 1925. It was legally registered in Jakarta in 1953. Baha’i The Baha’i religion was established by Bahaullah (1817-1892) in Baghdad in 1863. President Sukarno banned Baha’ism in 1962. President Abdurrahman Wahid revoked the ban in 2001. Bakor Pakem Coordinating Board for Monitoring Mystical