Religious freedom advocacy CSW has called on recently re-elected Indonesian President Joko Widodo to defend religious freedom as a “priority” of his second term in office and to make greater efforts to counter religious extremism and intolerance.
In a report released on Wednesday, the UK-based organisation praised the smooth conduct of what was one of the world’s biggest and most complex democratic exercises which saw more than 190 million people cast their vote, describing it as a “tribute to the sustainability of Indonesia’s democracy”.
But the organisation added that it was “deeply concerned” about the rise of religious intolerance, identity politics and violations of religious freedom, a situation which it said had been “further exacerbated by an election campaign which played on people’s fears, spread false information particularly via social media, and watered already existing seeds of prejudice and division”.
“CSW believes the priority for President Widodo in his second term must be to counter religious intolerance and extremism, strengthen and promote Indonesia’s tradition of religious pluralism based on the country’s founding state ideology known as ‘Pancasila’, and protect the rights of religious minorities,” the organisation said in the report.
CSW, which published the report based partly on observations made during a recent three week visit to the country by its representatives in April, said that Indonesia is at a crossroads “between a moderate, multi-religious, pluralistic Muslim-majority democratic society and a more extreme Islamist and intolerant society”.
“President Widodo has an opportunity, in his second term, to begin the work required to heal the divisions and return Indonesia to the path of pluralism, moderation, inter-religious harmony and the defence of freedom of religion or belief, and CSW urges him and his administration to do exactly that,” the report said.
Benedict Rogers, East Asia team leader for CSW, urged President Widodo to “strengthen Indonesia’s tradition of religious pluralism, ensure that the right to freedom of religion or belief is protected for all people, and counter those who preach hatred, incite violence and spread intolerance”.
He also urged the international community “to work to support the Indonesian government, civil society and religious leaders to promote inter-religious dialogue, to counter extremism and to protect freedom of religion or belief for all.”
