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Ahmadiyah community at risk in Indonesia
Amnesty International Urgent Action - March 16, 2011
UA: 77/11 Index: ASA 21/008/2011 Indonesia Date: 16 March 2011
The Ahmadiyah community, a religious minority in Indonesia, is facing increasing restrictions, intimidation and attacks because of their beliefs.
The Ahmadiyah community is facing increasing levels of restrictions, intimidation and attacks because of their beliefs, since the killing of three Ahmadis in the sub-district of Cikeusik, Banten province on 6 February. Since then at least four provinces in Indonesia – South Sulawesi, West and East Java and Banten – have issued new regional regulations restricting Ahmadiyah activities. The regulations include prohibiting the Ahmadiyah from distributing pamphlets, putting signs in front of their offices and places of worship, as well as forbidding them from wearing anything to indicate that they are Ahmadiyah members.
Local human rights groups have documented cases of intimidation against the Ahmadiyah by the Indonesian military. According to them military officers have been visiting the homes of Ahmadis in several districts of West Java collecting data about their members and asking some of them to sign sworn statements renouncing their faith. Attacks against Ahmadiyah property have also been reported. On 11 March, four Ahmadi homes were attacked in Ciareteun, West Java. The following day the Bogor district police reportedly rounded up Ahmadis in a village, informing them of the new regulation restricting their activities and telling them to move out if they fear for their safety. In another incident in the same province on 13 March, an estimated 40 demonstrators reportedly broke into an Ahmadiyah place of worship in Cipeuyem village, Cianjur district and burned hundreds of books.
The right to freedom of religion is guaranteed in the Indonesian Constitution. Moreover, Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Indonesia is a state party, states that "this right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice" and that "no one shall be subject to coercion which would impair his freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice".
Please write immediately in Indonesian or your own language calling on authorities in Indonesia:
President of the Republic
of Indonesia
H.E. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Istana Merdeka
Jakarta, 10110
Indonesia
Fax: + 62 21 345 2685
Salutation: Your Excellency
Home Affairs Minister
Gamawan Fauzi
Ministry of Home Affairs
Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara
No.7
Jakarta Pusat, 10110
Indonesia
Fax: +62 21 385 1193
Salutation: Dear Minister
Head of the Indonesian National
Police
General Timur Pradopo
Indonesian National Police
Headquarters
Jl. Trunojoyo No. 3
Jakarta Selatan
Indonesia
Fax: +62 21 722 0669
Salutation: Dear General
Copies to: diplomatic representatives of Indonesia accredited to your country. Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.
Additional Information
The Ahmadiyah are a religious group who consider themselves to be a part of Islam. Many mainstream Muslim groups say they do not adhere to the accepted belief system.
Amnesty International has documented numerous cases of intimidation and violence against the Ahmadiyah community by radical groups in various parts of Indonesia. These include attacks and burning of Ahmadiyah places of worship and homes, at times leading to their displacement. In most cases, those who commit acts of violence against the Ahmadiyah are not punished and there is a tendency by the authorities to blame the minority for "deviant views" when attacks occur. Harassment and attacks against the Ahmadiyah community are also fuelled by a 2008 Joint Ministerial Decree forbidding the Ahmadiyah from promoting their activities.
Three members of the Ahmadiyah were killed on the island of Java on 6 February 2011 when more than 1,000 people wielding rocks, machetes, swords and spears stormed the house of an Ahmadiyah leader in the sub-district of Cikeusik, Banten province. Twelve people have been arrested in connection with the incident.
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