ICC Note:
A report by Indonesia’s National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) found that the most frequent violators of religious freedom are regional administrations. The report also found that the number of complaints being filed against regional administrations was increasing significantly. The Coordinator of Komnas HAM’s faith freedom desk said, “This finding is very concerning because administrations are supposed to protect their citizens. This fact poses a serious threat to freedoms and rights, particularly on the regional levels.” One of the main reasons factors cited for the violations was the “low level of understanding…about human rights principles.” In some areas, religions such (such as Sharia law) has become conflated with national law, or mobs of radical Muslims have influenced regional authorities’ decisions, such as in Aceh when angry mob that was destroying churches pressured the local government into destroying more churches.
1/10/2017 Indonesia (The Jakarta Post) – Regional administrations are the most frequent abusers when it comes to violations against religious freedom, a report released by the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has revealed.
According to the report, of the 97 complaints submitted to the rights body, regional governments have been reported 52 times, more than those filed against mass organizations ( 13 ) and groups not affiliated with any organization ( 12 ). The report also revealed a significant increase compared to last year, when regional administrations were reported to have violated religious freedom 36 times.
“This finding is very concerning because administrations are supposed to protect their citizens. This fact poses a serious threat to freedoms and rights, particularly on the regional levels,” Komnas HAM’s faith freedom desk coordinator Jayadi Damanik said at the organization’s office in Jakarta on Tuesday.
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