Jakarta – The Legal Aid Institute Foundation (YLBHI) and its 14 subsidiaries have expressed concern that rampant violence by hard-liner groups is threatening freedom of religion in the

Lilian Budianto, Jakarta – Public diplomacy used to introduce Indonesia as a democratic Muslim nation overseas had been hampered by the domestic social crisis with radical groups oversh

Jakarta – Islamic minority sect Jamaah Ahmadiyah plans to file a protest to the government against the gubernatorial ban in South Sumatra put in place earlier this week.

Agus Maryono, Purwokerto – Sex workers are out in force in the tourist resort of Baturaden, despite an official ban by the local administration on the operation of the area's red-light

Executives of Indonesia's largest Muslim organization, Nadhlatul Ulama for East Java, reject Ramadan sweeps because of their violent nature, which is deemed contrary to the spirit of th

Erwida Maulia, Jakarta – The Regional Representatives Council (DPD) and the National Law Commission are planning to establish a body to review unconstitutional ordinances, including sha

Khairul Saleh, Palembang – Bowing to pressure from radical organizations, South Sumatra administration on Monday officially banned Ahmadiyah, an Islamic sect considered heretical, in th

Arlina Arshad, Jakarta – Families across Indonesia are tightening their belts during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, as rising food and fuel prices limit spending power for the nightl

Indonesian prosecutors have demanded up to seven years' jail for a self-described "commander" of radical Islamists who allegedly led a mob attack on a rally of religious moderates.

Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – The enforcement of many sharia-based ordinances in the country has been denounced by several legal experts as a violation of basic human rights.

Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – Less than 24 hours after being sworn in as the new head of the Constitutional Court, Moh. Mahfud M.D.

Jakarta – Indonesian prosecutors demanded more than five years' jail Thursday for an Islamist hardliner accused of inciting an armed attack on a moderate rally, as his trial opened amid

Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – The Al Mahmudah mosque is like any of the other myriad mosques scattered throughout Indonesia, where a cool breeze blows in from outside, creating a relaxing and

Panca Nugraha, Mataram – After more than two years as refugees, the fate of hundreds of Ahmadiyah followers in West Nusa Tenggara remains uncertain, with the provincial government faili

Jakarta – Hundreds of white-clad Muslim hardliners took to the streets of the Indonesian capital Monday to demand the government ban a minority Islamic sect branded "deviant" by top cle

Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – More than 300 Muslim scholars ended a three-day international conference here Friday with a decision to form an ulema body to address global conflicts within the

Andra Wisnu, Jakarta – Conservative and extremist leaders have insinuated their way into major Islamic organizations, leaving these groups unable to counter rising radicalism and religi

Andreas D. Arditya, Jakarta – The government is reviewing 37 sharia-based local regulations in force in several regions across the country.

Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – State interference in theological issues could put minority groups in danger and be misused by larger groups, leading to suppression and violence, religious scho

Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – The government's failure to enforce laws fairly and provide economic prosperity for all has been cited for rising support for the implementation of sharia in the

Jakarta – The majority of Muslims in Indonesia support the introduction of sharia in the country, but are wary about its implementation, a survey has revealed.

Jakarta – Dozens of young people from various religious backgrounds toured several places of worship in the capital on Saturday as part of an event to promote religious tolerance.

Jakarta – Radical Muslims have intensified their campaign for the government to ban Ahmadiyah and for followers of the sect to return to the fold of mainstream Islam.

Adianto P.

Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – Violence by members of a radical Islamic group earlier this month has damaged the international image of Indonesian Muslims, chairman of the country's second-lar

Jakarta – More than a thousand protesters swarmed the State Palace and the Jakarta Police headquarters in Central Jakarta on Wednesday, demanding the release of Rizieq Shihab, leader of

Cianjur – Around 150 militant Muslims have swept through housing complexes where members of the Ahmadiyah sect live, sealing off and vandalizing four mosques belonging to the sect.

Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – Moderate Muslim organizations and political parties have come under fire for failing to demonstrate their religious tolerance following a government decree again

A joint ministerial decree banning the Jamaah Ahmadiyah sect from spreading its beliefs has sparked debate across the country.

Dicky Christanto, Denpasar – Victims of the June 1 National Monument (Monas) attack have said demands for the Ahmadiyah sect to be banned are part of a systematic attempt to deflect pub

Jakarta – Most factions at the House of Representatives gave their support on Thursday to the controversial decree restricting the activities of Ahmadiyah sect followers.

Harry Bhaskara, Jakarta – A prominent Catholic priest said Wednesday that the June 1 attack by Muslim hard-liners on a peaceful rally in Jakarta could lead to global misperceptions abou

Jakarta – Police have officially detained Islam Troop Command leader Munarman at the City Police headquarters for allegedly masterminding the National Monument (Monas) ambush on June 1.

Jakarta – Human rights activists have demanded the government annul a decree against Jamaah Ahmadiyah because it violates the Constitution and legalizes crimes against the minority Isla

Jakarta – Jamaah Ahmadiyah can continue in Indonesia and its followers are allowed to worship in their homes and mosques, but they must not preach or try to convert others, Vice Preside

Jakarta – The government, bowing to intense pressure from extremist groups, has ordered Jamaah Ahmadiyah to stop all religious activities or face legal prosecution.

Nabiha Shahab, Jakarta – Liberal Indonesians accused the government of caving in to extremists Tuesday after it issued a quasi-ban against a minority Islamic sect in the face of violent

Yuli Tri Suwarni/Slame Susanto, Bandung/Yogyakarta – An alliance of interfaith volunteers in West Java and Yogyakarta blamed the government for the rise in violence against minority rel

Jakarta – Thousands of white-clad Muslims took to the streets of the Indonesian capital Monday to demand the government ban a minority Islamic sect branded "deviant" by top clerics.

ID Nugroho and Suherdjoko, Surabaya, Semarang – Dissatisfied with the government's reaction to violence by the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), an alliance of religious organizations in J

Jakarta – The House of Representatives is pressing the government to issue a decision on Ahmadiyah, to prevent further violence over the controversial Islamic group.

Andi Hajramurni, Makassar – Pressures were mounting for the government to immediately outlaw the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) held responsible for the attack at the National Monument (Mo

Dicky Christanto, Denpasar – Bali rights activists and lawmakers have praised police action in arresting Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) members for their alleged involvement in clashes l

Jakarta – More than 56 percent of youths in the Greater Jakarta area support sharia-based bylaws, but almost 80 percent believe in the Pancasila state ideology that protects Indonesia's

Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – The government came under fire Tuesday for the failure to arrest leaders and members of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) over an attack on activists at the Nation

Jakarta – The government is facing mounting pressure in cities across the country to dissolve the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) for its repeated in violent acts.

Bhimanto Suwastoyo, Jakarta – Indonesian police launched a major crackdown Wednesday on a radical Islamist group blamed for a weekend attack on a rally for religious tolerance, arrestin

Jakarta – The government has strong legal justifications for disbanding the radical Islam Defenders Front (FPI) and arresting followers who assaulted people rallying for religious toler

Bhimanto Suwastoyo, Jakarta – The Indonesian government was under strong pressure to act against Islamist extremists Tuesday after fanatics threatened war against a minority sect and at

Jakarta – Members of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) attacked activists at the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta on Sunday afternoon, leaving 34 injured.