Indonesian Charismatic Figure Retorts the Issue of Religious Intolerance in Indonesia

Jakarta - A session of the UN Human Rights Council meeting requested the Government of Indonesia to investigate properly the attacks on minorities and religious intolerance. A public hearing on the UPR review of Indonesia was attended by delegations from 74 countries, the UN Human Rights Council 24 members and 47 observers. The UPR Working Group session on Indonesia noted a number of things to watch. One is to question some of the religious intolerance in Indonesia and in protecting the rights of religious minorities.On that session, Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marty Natalegawa in his speech says that Government of Indonesia recognizes there are groups that had expressed strong views tend to be extreme and so contrary to the principles of democracy. Strangely, Natalegawa didn’t mention any reason behind the domestic conflict such as religious desecration and defamation that grows liberally. He is busy proclaiming that Indonesia will promote and protect human rights, without realizing this issue is only one sided and politically.In this session, Natalegawa also addressed to critics from several NGO’s that highlights the issue of intolerance for certain groups which carried out the minorities in Indonesia, such as the issue of establishment of several churches, the persecution of the Ahmadiyya, and banning a book discussion, but again he could never explain reasons behind all of this thing called ‘intolerance’.Natalegawa, as a representation of Indonesian Government stated that there is a progress about the protection of minorities, there are several positive developments achieved in Indonesia. One of them, the Government has carry out some positive efforts to suppress religious intolerance. He also stated that Indonesian Government will realize the commitment to promote and protect the human rights. Unfortunately,



Natalegawa forgets that the Moslem rights as the majority in Indonesia also needs to be protected in this country that support protection of human rights.The issue of religious desecration and defamation that conducted by Ahmadiyya sect, liberalism groups and NGO’s is the basic Human Rights of Moslem that has been neglected and didn’t get any support from the government, while this issue will always promote religious conflict in Indonesia.So which group is pointed as a democracy resister? Is that mean the other group such as liberalist can do whatever they want to desecrate Islam as a part of democracy, but Muslim who’s human rights is annoyed shouldn’t do anything to go against it because it will destroy democracy? Where is the balance in democracy? Is this the picture of a country that will protect and promote human rights? Which human rights?The suggestion from UN Human Right Council related religious intolerance in Indonesia draw a response from one of important figure, Hasyim Muzadi. In his response, Hasyim Muzadi presents substantial enlightenment for many people.

Hasyim Muzadi, as the president of WCRP (World Conference on Religions for Peace) & Secretary General of ICIS (International Conference for Islamic Scholars) also as former leader of Nahdatul Ulama in Indonesia addressing about the issue of religious intolerance in Indonesia on Indonesia Human Rights (Universal Periodic Review), which was announced by Minister of Foreign Affairs Marty Natalegawa in Geneva, Switzerland, May 23, 2012.

“As The President of WCRP and The Secretary General of ICIS, I really regret accusation of religious intolerance in Indonesia. The discussion in that world wide forum must be because there are domestic reports in Indonesia. While travelling around the world, I have never found any Moslem country more tolerant than Indonesia.

If the standard of issue is Ahmadiyya, it is because Ahmadiyya is deviate from principal of Islam, but always stamps themselves as Islam and also politically western oriented. If Ahmadiyya is a standalone individual religion, it would never be a problem for Moslem.

If the standard of issue is Yasmin Church in Bogor, I have gone there several times, but it seems they don’t want to finish the problem. They were likely wanting this issue to gone national and international for other purpose than to break up the problem.

If the standard of issue is establishment of several churches, the factor is neighborhood. In Java, it is difficult to build a church, but in Kupang (Batuplat) it is also difficult to build a mosque. Not to mention establishing mosque in Papua. ICIS always perform mediation regarding this.

If the standard of issue is Lady Gaga and Irshad Manji, which nation willing to destroy their values except for those who would sell their country for the pride of bare intellectualism?

If the standard of issue is human rights, how come in Papua, when troops or policemen and leader of a mosque died, no body shout about human rights?

Indonesia tolerance is better than Swiss, which until now prohibited mosque tower, better than France whose still questions about hijab, better than Denmark, Sweden and Norway who doesn’t respect religion, because they have law for same-sex marriage. Which religion permits same-sex marriage?

At last, all back to Indonesian, Moslem here have to be more aware and assertive on distinguishing which human rights is the real one (humanism) and the one whose just westernism…” Said Hasyim Muzadi

Regarding religious intolerance in Indonesia, not only Hasyim Muzadi opposes the accusations, even former vice president of Indonesia, Jusuf Kalla also refuses it. According to Jusuf Kalla, in America people can’t randomly build a mosque, “Even in America, we cannot randomly build a mosque” said Kalla.

If the accusations of intolerance derived from cancellation of Lady GaGa Concert in Indonesia, it has nothing to do with religious intolerance, because Lady GaGa is rejected in other countries like China and Philippine, “China and Philippine reject Lady GaGa, so it is not only the problem here in Indonesia, it’s everywhere, so it’s false accusations, there’s no religious intolerance” said Kalla