The United States Embassy in Indonesia has expressed "disappointment" in response to the light verdicts handed down in relation to the bloody attacks on members of the Ahmadiyah sect in Banten.

"We are disappointed by the disproportionately light sentences handed down on [Thursday] in the trials of twelve individuals implicated in the brutal murder of three Indonesian citizens during the February 6 attack on an Ahmadiyah community in Cikeusik, Pandeglang, Banten Province," the Embassy said in a statement.

"The United States encourages Indonesia to defend its tradition of tolerance for all religions, a tradition praised by President Obama in his November 2010 visit to Jakarta."