Human rights organization Setara Institute has urged the House of Representatives to cancel a bill that aims to boost tolerance in the country, arguing that it would instead exacerbate religious intolerance.

Setara chairman Hendardi said that the House should revise the bill by taking into account citizens' constitutional rights.

He said that the bill, which has 11 chapters and 55 articles, had failed to outline the government's guarantee of religious freedom as guaranteed under the 1945 Constitution, "and failed to understand inter-faith tolerance".

Setara pointed out at least five controversies within the bill, including that the bill promotes tolerance at the expense of freedom. Under the bill, certain activities can be curbed in the name of tolerance. "That is why we suggest that the House draft a bill to eliminate religious discrimination instead," Hendardi said as quoted by tempointeraktif.com.

Hendardi also cited articles on religious desecration, religious instruction, celebration of religious holidays and establishment of places of worship as controversial.

"[The articles] will only endorse violence against certain communities by particular groups," he said. "The government has shown its reluctance to take responsibility of this sensitive issue," Setara researcher Ismail Hasani added.