Regional Interfaith Dialogue, Connecting and Cooperating for Peace and Harmony In the Asia-Pacific region
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Several hundred protesters chanted “God is Great” and “Get out, communist!” outside China’s embassy in the Indonesian capital on Friday, demanding an end to mass detentions of Uighur Muslims.
Read more…Indonesian Muslims protest China’s detention of Uighurs
Questions surround the future of Indonesia’s reputation for tolerance and religious diversity after the conviction of the Christian Chinese governor of Jakarta on blasphemy charges.
Thousands of Indonesians have joined nationwide interfaith rallies organised by the military in an attempt to demonstrate national unity as religious and racial tensions divide the world’s most populous Muslim nation.
Read more…Indonesians join thousands of soldiers, police at Interfaith Rallies
Catholic Bishops in Indonesia have condemned a series of attacks on Buddhist temples by a Muslim mob in Tanjung Balai, North Sumatra, over the weekend, saying that it has damaged religious harmony. The Bishops also called on for the perpetrators who reportedly destroyed ten temples in raids late on July 29 and early July 30 to be brought to justice.
Read more…Indonesian bishops condemn attack on Buddhist temples
Muslim leaders from around the world met in Jakarta in the early part of May to address the religious aspects of extremism and terrorism. The International Summit of Moderate Islamic Leaders was hosted by Nahdlatul Ulama, an Indonesian Muslim organization that claims 50 million members worldwide.
Read more…Muslim Leaders From 30 Countries Meet In Indonesia To Fight Extremism
Religious leaders denounced the recent the violent eviction of hundreds of members of an illegal organization. On Jan. 19, a mob burned down nine houses belonging to members of the Fajar Nusantara Movement, known as Gafatar, in Moton Panjang village of Mempawah district in West Kalimantan province. Previously, local residents issued an ultimatum forcing all Gafatar members to leave the district
Read more…Indonesian religious leaders decry attack on Muslim sect
Indonesia’s largest Islamic movement is organising an interfaith gathering next week, in which some 10,000 people are expected to participate. Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), is organising a mass rally in the capital, Jakarta, on Jan. 17 as a way to fight religious extremism and terrorism, as well as promote pluralism as the true foundation of Indonesian society. NU will be joined by 13 other Islamic organisations, as well as the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Indonesia (Konferensi Waligereja Indonesia, KWI), various Protestant churches and the Supreme Council for the Confucian Religion in Indonesia (Majelis Tinggi Agama Konghucu Indonesia, MATAKIN).
Read more…Indonesian Muslim group organizing interfaith event against extremism
For more than a decade now Christmas celebrations in Indonesia have been under tight security. As the holiday approaches in 2015, police and military begin to divide tasks as to who will provide security for which church.
Indonesia has tightened security ahead of Christmas celebrations, by deploying thousands of security forces to guard churches across the archipelago.
Read more…Indonesia tightens security ahead of Christmas celebrations
Authorities in Indonesia’s conservative Aceh province have begun tearing down several Christian churches after hardline Muslims demanded their closure citing a lack of building permits and religious violence.
Read more…Churches condemned and torn down in Indonesia’s Aceh following religious violence