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Protect minority Muslims, Amnesty tells Indonesia

Amnesty International has urged the Indonesian government to repeat its commitment to protecting the right to freedom of religion.
Protect minority Muslims, Amnesty tells Indonesia
Published: February 24, 2011 10:43 AM GMT
Updated: February 24, 2011 10:43 AM GMT

Amnesty International has urged the Indonesian government to repeat its commitment to protecting the right to freedom of religion in the face of calls from radical groups to outlaw a religious minority community. Several hundred members of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) and other groups staged a demonstration in the capital Jakarta on 18 February calling on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to disband the Ahmadiyya group. A second protest is planned outside the Presidential Palace for 1 March 2011, Bikya Masr reports. “The Indonesian government must state, clearly and publicly, that it will protect the rights of all Indonesian citizens, regardless of their religion – and that includes the rights of the Ahmadiyya community,” said Sam Zarifi, Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific Director. “The President should denounce public statements inciting violence against the Ahmadiyya and take steps to ensure that all religious minorities are protected and allowed to practice their faith free from fear, intimidation and persecution.” Three members of the Ahmadiyya 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 Ahmadiyya leader in the sub-district of Cikeusik, Banten province. SOURCE Indonesia must commit to freedom of religion (Bikya Masr) PHOTO Axel.Mauruszat (Wikipedia)

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