Diocesan Resources
Indonesia A Muslim Nation Struggles to Promote Tolerance and Pluralism (2017)
Indonesia A Muslim Nation Struggles to Promote Tolerance and Pluralism USCCB Fact Sheet
The world’s fourth most populous country, Indonesia extends almost two thousand miles to encompass 13,000 islands. Of its population of 258 million, almost 80 percent identify as Muslim, but in some areas, Hindus or Christians are the majority. Indonesia’s founding ideology of “Pancasila” testifies that all religions are equal and its motto is “Unity in Diversity.” Most Indonesians practice a very mainstream and tolerant expression of Islam, but more militant groups have become increasingly active in recent years, attacking other Muslim sects and nonMuslims alike. Though Indonesia has made some strides in recent years to build a stronger democratic government with a viable civil society and an independent media, human rights violations continue to mar progress.
Indonesia’s constitution promotes tolerance and pluralism and its laws and policies establish freedom of religion, but lack of implementation has led to discrimination against religious minorities. For example, onerous approvals are required from the surrounding community and the government before a religious minority can construct a house of worship. Even when approvals are eventually granted, extremists can mobilize to ensure that no house of worship is built. Christians have faced harassment and been prevented from entering existing churches; and churches and Hindu temples have been burned to the ground.