ICC NOTE: Indonesia begins it celebration of their Independence from Dutch colonial rule, making it their 71st day of independence. What should be a day of celebration for all, there is still the issue of a lack of equality for all religions despite a constitutional provision protecting religious freedom. The minority Christian population continues to struggle for the same rights and protections the majority Muslim faith receives. Building permits are regularly denied or hindered for Christians when they attempt at constructing new places of worship. The difficult requirements make it nearly impossible for new churches to be constructed and when they are able to receive the permit, many are harassed and threatened by radical Islamic groups. in October of 2015, the province of Aceh experienced an escalation in violence against Christian communities as churches were burned and thousands were forced to leave the province for safety. Aceh is the only province in Indonesia given special privileges to be ruled under Sharia law. 

8/19/2016 Indonesia (UCA News) – The proverbial bells rang for Indonesia’s 71^st Independence Day this week but some religious minorities are still waiting for the government to implement the constitution and afford them the same freedoms enjoyed by their countrymen.

Despite having a secular constitution religious minorities still suffer discrimination and persecution in the Muslim-majority nation, they said.

“Indonesia gained independence from Dutch colonial rule in 1945,” said Marcelus Maurits Astari from St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Jakarta.

“But some religious groups aren’t free yet to worship and have difficulty obtaining building permits for their places of worship.”

Christians in Jakarta have faced discrimination when attempting to build churches. Many congregations have to meet informally, in shops and schools.

St. Clara Parish in North Bekasi sub-district obtained a building permit for a church but Muslim hardliners protested against it. “This means that the 1945 constitution and national ideology is not yet being upheld,” said Astari.

GKI Taman Yasmin Church in Bogor district was banned from using their church in 2010 after the local government revoked their building permit, according to Cipta Santosa, a church member. “They approve freedom but then ruin the freedom of other people,” he said.”

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