Jakarta – The Setara Institute, a non-profit organization which promotes tolerance and pluralism in Indonesia, has asked the police to have regional morality bylaws deemed threatening pluralism and national unity changed.

"Police should protect all citizens who are discriminated against or are in danger because of their religious beliefs," Setara chief Hendardi said in a media statement.

Setara noted that the police are often powerless in the face of mobs that attack places of worship or members of certain religious sects. In some cases, officers on duty even side with the attackers.

It recorded 39 cases of religious persecution in 2007, 121 cases in 2008 and 48 cases across Indonesia in 2009, in which police were either guilty by commission or omission.

"Many laws addressing religious freedom discriminate against minorities. Unless the laws are reformed, the police will never be able to carry out its duty properly," Hendardi said.

"In cases of religious conflict, the police should act neutrally and stop criminalizing religious beliefs as the MUI (Indonesian Ulema Council) and intolerant religious groups do."