Jakarta, IO – Setara Institute for Democracy and Peace on Tuesday (31/1) published a report on freedom of religion and belief in Indonesia in 2022.
Setara Institute researcher Syera Anggreini Buntara said the report identified four trends. First, the significant increase in disturbances of places of worship, with 50 cases recorded, up from 16 in 2017, reported VoA Indonesia, Thursday (1/2).
Setara Institute defines disturbance of places of worship as opposition against the construction of houses of worship, destruction and demolition of houses of worship, including the facilities therein.
Second, 14 cases of preaching prohibition, a jump from just one incident per year previously.
The third trend is accusations of blasphemy which rose from 10 in 2021 to 19 in 2022. Fourth, provinces with the most violations are East Java (34 incidents), followed by West Java (25 incidents) and Jakarta (24 incidents).
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Syera also pointed out that the majority of the perpetrators were state officials in the regions, the police and public educational institutions, as well as non-government actors which comprise residents and religious organizations and even the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI). (un)