The Semarang branch of the Center for Social and Religious Studies (eLSA) reported that the Central Java Province was one of regions prone to religious intolerance incidents with 14 cases in 2015.
“Intolerance issues were related to administration services, prayer house development, and horizontal conflicts among people related to religious beliefs,” Semarang branch of eLSA director Tedi Kholiludin said on Sunday, December 27, 2015.
Tedi explained that the intolerance cases in Central Java were similar to those occurred in last year. The latest case was bans on Ahmadiyah followers to speak in a seminar by certain groups. Other cases include prayer house owned by Sapta Darma followers being vandalized in Rembang Regency.
The religious tolerance in Central Java was also tainted with rejection of Church construction in Pemalang, a clash between Al-Quran Tafsir Assembly and Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) youth wing Anshor (Banser), attempt of the Java Christian Church burning in Purwerejo, and others.
The Center for Social and Religious Studies also recorded a violation of freedom of expression rights against author Amhad Fauzi, protest against Hizbut Tahrir activities in Banyumas, rejection of Indonesian Christian Followers in Klaten, and issues with Ahmadiyah discussion.
