Cases of Intolerance in Central Java Increases, Institution Says
2 January 2017 18:44 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Semarang - Cases related to freedom of religion and intolerance in Central Java is experiencing an increase in 2016 compared to previous years. The Central Java Institution for Social and Religious Studies (eLSA) recorded 20 cases of intolerance in the province from January to December 2016.
"There is always a repetition of motives and pattern of intolerance cases every year," according to eLSA activist Tedi Kholiluddin to Tempo in Semarang on Monday, January 2, 2017.
Back in 2015, eLSA recorded a total of 14 cases of intolerance in Central Java. Meanwhile in 2014, 2013, and 2012, the Institution recorded 10, six, and 17 cases, respectively.
Tedi said that cases of intolerance in 2016 were related to construction of prayer houses, forced attempt to stop religious events, dismissal of public speaker alleged for spreading hate speech, rejection of Shia events, criminalization of religious books writers, and other issues.
On the other hand, Central Java Police Chief Insp. Gen. Condro Kirono said that there were only nine cases of intolerance in 2016. "The cases occur from January to December 2016," Condro said.
ROFIUDDIN
