Riset Setara: Intoleransi Kebebasan Beragama, Provinsi Jawa Timur Geser Jawa Barat | Narasi Daily

Summary

East Java has now become the province with the most violations of freedom of religion and belief (KBBI), surpassing West Java. Key issues include the rejection of religious sermons, the refusal to establish places of worship, and discriminatory policies. The rise in violations is attributed to strong stigmas against traditional beliefs and the influence of the Nahdlatul Ulama organization. The report also highlights the role of local leaders in either supporting or opposing intolerance, leading to further violations. Overall, there were 175 incidents of religious violations in Indonesia in 2022, an increase from the previous year.

Takeaways

• 😀 East Java has ranked first in the country for the highest number of violations against religious freedom (KBBI), surpassing West Java.
• 😀 A total of 34 KBBI violations were recorded in East Java, including incidents like speech rejections, temple construction denials, and discriminatory policies.
• 😀 The most common violation in East Java was the rejection of speeches, with 8 reported incidents.
• 😀 The second most common violation was the denial of places of worship, with 6 incidents recorded.
• 😀 Discriminatory policies accounted for 4 incidents, while reports of religious blasphemy numbered 3 incidents.
• 😀 The surge in violations in East Java was especially notable in 2022, with a significant increase due to speech rejections.
• 😀 Most speech rejections targeted speakers perceived as radical or exclusive by the public.
• 😀 Two major factors driving KBBI violations in East Java were strong stigma against traditional religious or cultural practices and the dominance of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) in the region.
• 😀 The shift in rankings from West Java to East Java was also influenced by the decline in the activity of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI).
• 😀 The total number of KBBI violations across Indonesia in 2022 was 175 events, with 333 recorded violations, an increase from 171 events in 2021.
• 😀 The lack of firm leadership from local authorities in addressing intolerance was identified as a contributing factor to the rise in violations.

Q & A

What is the significance of East Java's position in the latest report on religious freedom violations?

East Java has taken the top spot in Indonesia for the most religious freedom violations, with 34 recorded incidents, surpassing West Java, which had previously held this position since 2007.

What are the most common types of religious freedom violations in East Java?

The most common violations in East Java include 8 incidents of rejecting religious lectures, 6 incidents of rejecting the establishment of places of worship, 4 incidents of discriminatory policies, and 3 incidents related to religious desecration reports.

Why did East Java experience such a significant increase in religious freedom violations in 2022?

The increase is largely attributed to the 8 incidents of rejecting religious lectures, particularly those perceived as extreme, radical, or exclusive, which contributed to the surge in violations.

What are the two main factors driving religious freedom violations in East Java?

The two primary factors are the strong stigma against ancestral traditions, religion, and culture, and the influential presence of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) organization in East Java.

How has the position of West Java changed in terms of religious freedom violations?

West Java, which had previously ranked first in religious freedom violations, has now been overtaken by East Java, partly due to the reduced activity of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) in the region.

What is the overall trend in the number of religious freedom violations in Indonesia from 2021 to 2022?

The total number of religious freedom violations in Indonesia increased from 171 incidents in 2021 to 175 incidents in 2022, with a rise in violations from 318 to 333 reported actions.

What role does the leadership of local government officials play in the increase in religious freedom violations?

The lack of strong leadership in promoting tolerance by local government officials has been identified as a key factor in the rise of violations, with some local leaders yielding to intolerant groups, such as agreeing to the rejection of places of worship or lectures.

How does the attitude of local leaders affect the situation in places like Cilegon?

In places like Cilegon, local leaders have been observed to back down in the face of pressure from intolerant groups, such as agreeing to the rejection of a church, even when it was previously allowed, thus failing to demonstrate good leadership in promoting tolerance.

What is the impact of stigmatization of ancestral traditions and culture on religious freedom in East Java?

The strong stigma against ancestral traditions, religions, and cultures creates an environment where certain religious groups and practices are marginalized, which contributes to the violation of religious freedoms.

What does the report suggest about the role of the Nahdlatul Ulama organization in East Java's religious climate?

The Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) organization, being a significant religious and cultural influence in East Java, plays a pivotal role in shaping the region’s religious climate, which is one of the factors behind the high number of religious freedom violations in the province.