Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), which investigates reports of religious persecution, said
some 200 masked militants from the radical Islamic Defenders Front and Hizb ut-Tahrir Indonesia groups attacked the rally Sunday, June 1, with "sharpened wooden bamboo and steel sticks."
The Front reportedly defended the violence, including beating women and unarmed men, saying they were "defending Islam."
Sunday’s rally also came after several reported attacks against minority Christians and churches in Indonesia, a predominantly Muslim nation. It also had been called to express support for constitutionally enshrined religious freedoms amid a debate over the minority Ahmadiyah Islamic sect, which the government is considering banning over its "deviant" beliefs.
FPI leaders announced Monday they were preparing for war with Ahmadis and would fight "until our last drop of blood" to resist attempts to arrest them. CSW’s Chief Executive, Mervyn Thomas, told BosNewsLife that his group is “deeply disturbed at the violent attack on peaceful families and interfaith activists."
TURNING POINT?
He said his group hopes that the violence will mark "a turning point in the Indonesian government’s treatment of militant groups who have been responsible for numerous violent attacks against those supporting democracy and rule of law." The Britain-based CSW also urged the the European Union to ask the Indonesian government to address the latest violence and prosecute suspects.
The United States Embassy in Jakarta also urged the government to "continue to uphold freedom of religion for all its citizens as enshrined in the Indonesian constitution." It said in a statement that, "This type of violent behaviour has serious repercussions for freedom of religion and association in Indonesia,
The participants, mainly families with children, "fled for their lives," CSW said. "Police officers present at the scene also came under attack and most fled. Some 30 people were injured, several requiring hospitalization," the group added.
Sunday’s gathering was organised by the National Alliance for Freedom of Religion and Faith to celebrate the 63rd anniversary of the tolerance-based state ideology Pancasila. The group reportedly said the attack lasted about half an hour and ended when militants left to join another protest om front of the presidential palace.
CHRISTIANS ATTACKED
Sunday’s rally came after several reported attacks against minority Christians and churches in Indonesia, a predominantly Muslim nation. The rally had also been called to express support for constitutionally enshrined religious freedoms amid a debate over the minority Ahmadiyah Islamic sect, which the government is considering banning over its "deviant" beliefs.
FPI leaders announced Monday they were preparing for war with Ahmadis and would fight "until our last drop of blood" to resist attempts to arrest them. CSW’s Chief Executive, Mervyn Thomas, told BosNewsLife that his group is "eeply disturbed at the violent attack on peaceful families and interfaith activists."
He said his group hopes that the violence will mark "a turning point in the Indonesian government’s treatment of militant groups who have been responsible for numerous violent attacks against those supporting democracy and rule of law." The Britain-based CSW also urged the the European Union to ask the Indonesian government to address the latest violence and prosecute suspects.
The United States Embassy in Jakarta also urged the government to "continue to uphold freedom of religion for all its citizens as enshrined in the Indonesian constitution." It said in a statement that, "This type of violent behaviour has serious repercussions for freedom of religion and association in Indonesia, and raises security concerns." (With reporting from Jakarta).
