Jakarta - After two years of a tiresome legal process the Medan District Court ruled Meiliana (44) guilty of blasphemy and handed the Tanjung Balai resident a year and six months prison sentence for complaining about the noise level of a mosque’s adhan (Muslim prayer calling).  at Meiliana’s neighborhood in South Tanjung Balai when she protested against the sound level of the adhan from the neighborhood’s local mosque Al Maksun Meiliana decided to voice her protest to the mosque caretaker named Kasidik who followed up Meiliana’s protest to the people that had gathered in the mosque after a prayer.  After engaging in a dialogue with the people in the mosque the mosque’s Imam Harris Tua Marpaung and the management stopped by Meiliana’s house the arguments began to arise between Meiliana and the Al Maksun members.  According to Tempo’s interview with Harris Tua on Thursday Meiliana explained to the men that the mosque’s adhan made her ears hurt while pointing at the men.  The argument did not last long after Meiliana’s husband stepped in to be the mediator and offered his apologies to the mosque’s members the situation escalated again after Meiliana became furious with the adhan of Isha prayer and this is said to have triggered the anger of other residents Meiliana was taken to the local district office by the mosque’s members to avoid further escalation Meiliana issued a public apology in front of the Tanjung Balai headman Edy Muriadi but was met with shouting by local residents that were present.  She was then helped taken to the Tanjung Balai police headquarter to further conduct a mediation between the two parties since the situation had gone from bad to worse at the Tanjung Balai district office.  a riot broke when an unknown mass ransacked and ruined Meliana’s house which was followed by a highly tense night where the unknown group destroyed or vandalized several temples and viharas across the Tanjung Balai City Meiliana was named as a blasphemy suspect since March 2017 while the eight suspects of vandalism that were arrested each received only one to three months behind bars The judge’s sentencing corroborated to the public prosecutor’s indictment.  Meiliana’s attorney Ranto Sibarani said that he will appeal the judge’s verdict we will appeal since there was no evidence How could a criminal case come from no evidence,” said Ranto Ranto explained that the public prosecutor’s indictment could not be proven when he claimed that Meiliana had only questioned the volume of the Mosque’s adhan to a seller while purchasing an item on July 22 Meiliana’s attorney also questioned the prosecutor’s pieces of evidence presented in court which were items unrelated to the substance of the case; a sound amplifier and loudspeaker The other evidence he greatly questioned was a written statement signed by 100 Al Maksun Mosque members and the North Sumatra’s Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI) stating that Meiliana had conducted a blasphemy.  “How about gather 100 people to make a statement that someone committed murder next time No other evidence but just the statement letter Added with the fatwa corroborating the accusation That’s it to sentence someone to prison,” assessed Ranto who questioned the legal proceeding of Meiliana’s blasphemy case Learn About the Outsourcing Practices Prabowo Intends to Scrap Prabowo: Bill Gates to Support Free Nutritious Meal Program in Indonesia Prabowo Rejects 'Puppet President' Label, Denies Jokowi's Control Manpower Minister Unveils Reasons Behind Over 24,000 Layoffs by April 2025 Prabowo Claims 99.99% Success Rate for Free Nutritious Meal Program Indonesia and Japan Deepen Strategic Alliance in Clean Energy and Infrastructure Jokowi Responds to Calls for VP Gibran's Impeachment Prabowo Praises Jokowi's Inflation Control in Cabinet Session, Denies Link to Gibran's Presence BPS: Indonesian Economic Growth Slows to 4.87% in Q1 2025 Rupiah Strengthens as US-China Trade Tension Eases KPK Wants Immunity Right for Its Higher-ups Julian Assange Arrested in London After 7-year Refuge in Embassy U.S.Charges Julian Assange with Hacking Conspiracy with Manning Match-Fixing; 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Here Are the Top 10 North Sumatra - Two monasteries and five temples located in Tanjung Balai This incident was triggered by a misunderstanding The incident eventually got all under control at around 03:30 WIB after the Police mediate with the mob and kept on urging them to go home A woman with with the initials `M` felt disturbed by the sound of Adzan (calling of prayer) from a mosque M and the people at the mosque then quarreled; the police and the urban village authorities immediately tried to mediate them someone spread a false information via a broadcast in an instant messenger service The message broadcasted through the social media stated that the mosque was prohibited to sound any Adzan That message ultimately made some people in Tanjung Balai went on a rampage they came to M`s house to do some property damage but then they move on and multiply in number The false info spread so fast that it actually deviated from the fact of what is actually happened," stated Ayep when contacted by Tempo Ayep said that M is still secured in the local police office to avoid the possibility of mass fury not only several Buddhist monasteries and temples were burned because of the praying equipments such as incense and praying papers which are prone to fire A number of vehicles also got burned," said Ayep (This article has been corrected due to incorrect information in the previous article) Indonesia`s Startup Investment at Rp39.8 tn   Jokowi Keeps Low Profile on Social Media   International Coffee Day: Solo to Give 5,000 Cups of Free Coffee   Top 5 Indonesian Athletes in 2018 Asian Para Games   Sumatra Plans Restoration of Hundreds of Hectares of Peat Land Sperm Whale Ingested Plastic Waste; Serious Solution Required Ousted Casillas Speaks of Triumph over Juventus Jakarta-A lawmaker of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) Eva Kusuma Sundari sees the need for the government to remain neutral in any religious violence Eva said that the government must help rebuild the burned monasteries and temples and provide indemnification for the destroyed building and cars in Tanjung Balai riot on July 20 must be arrested and prosecuted,” she said in Jakarta President Soekarno said that Indonesia should never differentiate between members of ethnic majority and minority groups Eva suggested the Religious Affairs Ministry to use its community development funds for de-radicalization programs which include dissemination of Islamic values of torelance and upholding the constitution The incident has reinforced the need for the government role in disseminating Pancasila values and the national pillars she has urged the community to understand that ethnic minority group must also respect their majority counterparts Indonesia has various religions and ethnicity an ethnic majority group in a region could be a minority in another region we may question a non-Muslim woman who protested against loudspeakers in mosque But the protest is not a crime,” Eva said Govt Launches Religious Conflict Early Warning System App GIDI Apologizes to Moslems for Tolikara Incident Influential Indonesian Ustad Resides in New York   Influential Indonesian Ustad Resides in New York England Sees Dramatic Rise in Attacks on Muslims Be aware that there are scammers active on WA pretending to be Indonesia Investments Indonesia Investments Report - March 2025 Edition Jakarta Composite Index (6,766.79)  +17.72  +0.26% GDP Growth Q4-2024 5.02% (y/y) Inflation March 2025 +1.03% (y/y) Central Bank BI Rate April 2025 5.75% Religious violence and intolerance flared up in Indonesia's North Sumatra over the weekend when an angry Muslim mob burned down (or damaged) 12 Buddhist temples in Tanjung Balai According to local authorities the mob was mobilized after an Indonesian woman of Chinese descent complained about the loud volume of the calls to prayer and Koranic recitals at the mosque that is situated in front of her house seven people were detained by Indonesian police on suspicion of attacking the temples Local authorities say that provocateurs on social media seriously aggravated the situation the angry mob mobilized after there emerged stories on social media that the Chinese woman threw items at the mosque and managed to interrupt the prayers South Tanjung Balai sub-district head Pahala Zulfikar says these stories are not true and were only aimed at aggravating the situation A police unit will now investigate who these provocateurs were The temple attacks occurred on Saturday (30/07) the situation was reportedly conducive as Indonesian police and military stepped up security at Buddhist temples to prevent similar attacks There were no reports of any casualties or injuries in these incidents Indonesia is a Muslim-majority nation where most Muslims practice a moderate form of Islam there the country also has a long history of religious violence Every year there are sporadic attacks on churches temples or certain streams within Islam (for example the Ahmadiyyah) Indonesia also has a history of anti-Chinese violence (this violence was particularly harsh during the chaotic early days of the Asian Financial Crisis) Most of Indonesia's ethnic Chinese community practice Buddhism There exist negative sentiments toward the ethnic Chinese minority in Indonesia because they are considered outsiders (even though most Chinese families have been living in Indonesia for generations) and are perceived as rich only a small minority within the ethnic Chinese minority have managed to establish grand business empires local authorities emphasize that the incidents in Tanjung Balai over the weekend are not related to anti-Chinese sentiments In response to the incidents in Tanjung Balai Indonesia's second-biggest Muslim organization emphasized the importance of greater religious and racial tolerance in North Sumatra Please sign in or subscribe to comment on this column “Two Corruption Cases in Karimun Transfered to Tanjungpinang” http://batamnews.co.id/berita-6559-2-kasus-korupsi-di-karimun-ini-diserahkan-ke-pn-tipikor-tanjungpinang.html – Batam News The Attorney General of Tanjungbalai Karimun will submit two corruption cases to the corruption court of Tanjungpinang Both cases were related to alleged corruption in construction of the Port Health Office (KKP) at Tanjungbalai Karimun in 2013 “SDA Accuse Investigators Got Hajj from Corruption http://www.cnnindonesia.com/nasional/20150908194046-12-77465/sda-tuduh-penyidik-nikmati-haji-dari-korupsi-kpk-bantah/ - CNN accused investigators from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to have benefited from corruption money as they participated in hajj program at the Ministry of Religion guaranteed that all operational and assignment costs for every KPK staffs are funded by the government It's not possible that his investigators could be funded by any corruption suspects “Hajj Quota Case: DPR Defend Megawati and Amien Rais” http://nasional.harianterbit.com/nasional/2015/09/08/40924/25/25/Korupsi-Kuota-Haji-DPR-Bela-Megawati-dan-Amien-Rais – Harian Terbit Commission VIII of the House of Representatives (DPR) which concentrate on religious issues insist that accusations thrown by former Minister of Religion Suryadharma Ali suspect in corruption of hajj funds at his Ministry that Megawati Soekarnoputri and Amien Rais also benefited from government hajj quota 6Jakarta Selatan 12740Tel.+6221.7901885 +6221.7994015Fax Copyright 2022 - ICW All Rights Reserved Dewi Elvia Muthiariny Laila Afifa TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairman Firli Bahuri apologized to all Indonesian people on Thursday after an investigator allegedly committed corruption A middle-ranking police officer hired by the KPK, Stepanus Robin Pattuju allegedly took bribes from North Sumatra’s Tanjungbalai Mayor “This behavior does not reflect the attitude of KPK employees who must uphold honesty and professionalism in practicing their duties,” said Firli in a press conference at the anti-graft body’s Merah Putih building on Thursday He appealed to regional government institutions and the general public to make a report if any party asks for facilities and others as a return for terminating a case or other excuses “File a report to the local police immediately and inform the KPK,” Firli underlined investigator Stepanus Robin Pattuju was suspected of asking Tanjungbalai Mayor M Syahrial to prepare Rp1.5 billion as a reward for helping to drop a corruption case in the city government being investigated by the anti-graft body At present, Stepanus Robin Pattuju and a lawyer Maskur Husain were both named suspects for taking bribes from Tanjungbalai Mayor. The KPK also named Syahrial as a graft suspect Read Also: Moeldoko Reveals Plan of Action on Corruption Jakarta May Day: Prabowo Renews Call for Asset Forfeiture Bill Nonactive Jak TV News Director Granted City Detention Amid Health Concerns Former South Korean President Moon Jae-in Charged with Bribery Over Son-in-Law's Airline Job Jak TV News Director Suspended Over Obstruction of Justice in Corruption Cases KPK Finds 22% of Indonesian Schools Involved in Gratification to Influence Grades Former Pertamina Chief Karen Agustiawan Questioned over Oil Governance Corruption Case Free Nutritious Meal Project for Family and Friends KPK Explains La Nyalla's Connection to Alleged KONI Grant Fund Corruption This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Police have charged twelve people with robbery and vandalism after several Buddhist temples and monasteries were ransacked by mobs in the city of Tanjung Balai “We've charged eight suspects with robbery and four with vandalism,” North Sumatra Police spokeswoman Sr The incident on Saturday began when residents reportedly got angry at a woman of Chinese descent who they alleged protested against a mosque using loudspeakers to broadcast calls to prayers and recitals in front of her home in Tanjung Balai The situation quickly escalated as provocations against the woman circulated on social media Reports said at least five Buddhist houses of worship were damaged and burned down by the angry mob Rina said police have questioned more than 39 witnesses in the case “There could be more suspects as we are still questioning other witnesses,” Rina said The country's second-biggest Muslim group, Muhammadiyah, has called for greater religious and racial tolerance following the Tanjung Balai attacks The chairman of Muhammadiyah's youth organization said the riots were intolerable and could damage Indonesia's religious and ethnic diversity Twelve Buddhist places of worship were burned down or damaged by an enraged mob in Tanjung Balai No casualties were reported in the incident which also saw the destruction of eight vehicles The mob allegedly went on the rampage after a woman of Chinese descent reportedly complained about calls to prayers and Koranic recitals over loudspeakers installed at a mosque in front of her home South Tanjung Balai subdistrict head Pahala Zulfikar said He said the situation was further aggravated by provocation against the woman on social media "There appeared to be provocateurs who claimed that the woman threw items at the mosque expelled the prayer leader and stopped the prayers," Zulfikar said "None of that is true but the information has been spread widely." Calm has since returned to the area and residents have been able to return to their homes for the time being The police and members of the Indonesian Military (TNI) have stepped up security at all monasteries and temples to prevent similar attacks The buildings that were affected are the Ratna Monastery the premises of a social foundation and two other unnamed temples TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs issued a circular letter regulating loudspeakers and the sounds produced by mosques. The discussion on the volume of mosque`s loudspeakers is trending following the Medan District Court sentenced Meiliana to 1 year and 6 months jail time over a blasphemy case.  The sole reason why Meiliana was taken to court is due to her harmless complaint to a neighbor on the loud noise blustering out of a mosque located exactly in front of Meiliana’s house in Tanjungbalai The Ministry’s letter identified under B.3940/DJ.III/HK.00.07/08/2018 on August 24 entitled “The use of loudspeakers in Mosques and Musholla” requested the religious spots to refer to the instructions of the director general of Muslim guidance Read: Chronology of Tanjung Balai Blasphemy Case against Meiliana Here are the six government instructions on sound levels produced by mosques: The maintenance of loudspeakers in mosques should be handled by experienced people with skill sets in the field and other noises that would potentially spark antipathy toward mosques The people operating the loudspeakers must possess a melodious and good voice and is not discordant This is to avoid people from feeling bothered and not sympathizing to the activity.  Fulfills several required elements such as not raising sound levels while conducting a prayer the people that will be able to hear the sounds should be in a condition where they are prepared to listen to the noises such as not in the times when the people sleep Read: KontraS Presses for Meiliana to Receive Justice Corroborating to the Prophet’s requirement But the government reminds that the quality of the sounds must fulfill basic qualities such as being melodious and easy on the ears.  This instruction also talks about the appropriate time to announce a prayer’s adhan Activities such as an Al-Quran reciting session or an early morning session other than praying should only utilize indoor speakers.   Religious Affairs Ministry Introduces Love-Based Curriculum for Schools Indonesia to Hold Isbat Session to Mark Eid al-Fitr on March 29 Ministry of Religious Affairs Implements Friday WFH Policy Amid Budget Cuts Religious Affairs Ministry to Determine Start of Ramadan 2025 Today Isbat Session Set to Determine Ramadan: Ministry Monitors Hilal from 125 Locations Indonesia's Religious Affairs Ministry Completes Saudi Arabia Hajj Service Contract Before February 14 Countdown to Ramadan 2025: How Many Days to Go Ministry of Religious Affairs Explains Reasons for Saudi Arabia to Reduce 2025 Hajj Companion Quota Ministry of Religious Affairs Changes Status of 10 Private Christian Schools to Become Public House Unveils Findings on Alleged Abuse of Authority during 2024 Hajj Exposing Trump's Move on Mike Waltz Dismissal Authorities in North Sumatra intercepted 34 migrants who tried to leave Indonesia illegally for Malaysia on Feb 7 JAKARTA: It was pitch-dark when 28-year-old Andika Pramono and 33 other Indonesians waited at the shore in Tanjung Tiram North Sumatra in the wee hours of Monday (Feb 7) They were waiting for a specific instruction one they believed would lead them closer to their dreams of working in Malaysia for higher pay someone told them the boat which would bring them illegally to Malaysia had arrived “We were told to quickly go to the boat some 200m offshore But we didn’t know that the water was muddy,” Mr Pramono told CNA The water was only about 1.3m deep but the mud made it difficult for them to walk Some of the women who were below 1.6m in height were having difficulties some of the women might have died due to exhaustion," he said 30 of them managed to reach the wooden motorboat while four people stayed onshore as they did not dare to swim in the muddy water military and police personnel suddenly arrived All 34 migrant workers were detained but the boat captain managed to flee Attempts of Indonesians trying to leave for Malaysia illegally is not uncommon There are cases of Indonesians being smuggled to Malaysia almost every day Indonesia’s police chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo reportedly said during a meeting with his Malaysian counterpart Inspector-General Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani in late January when they discussed migrant workers issues Navy spokesperson First Admiral Julius Widjojono told CNA that in the last three months authorities intercepted at least four attempts of migrant workers trying to cross to Malaysia illegally There was one raid in Batam and three others in Sumatra Illegal journeys are also prone to boat accidents Between December last year and January this year there were at least five boat accidents resulting in the death of dozens of Indonesians head of government agency for the protection of migrant workers BP2MI Benny Rhamdani told CNA Why do people undertake these illegal and unsafe journeys It usually begins with a desire for better-paying jobs in Malaysia he completed junior high school but was forced to abandon his dreams of progressing to shipping school due to financial difficulties in his family he was a driver for a wedding decoration company earning 1.5 million rupiah (US$105) per month Living in North Sumatra’s provincial capital Medan the salary was below the provincial minimum wage of about 3 million rupiah But at least it was a fixed income and he could have some savings The pandemic meant that wedding receptions were forbidden and he lost his job he worked as a construction worker earning a daily wage of between 80,000 rupiah to 90,000 rupiah When he learnt that some of his friends were earning more in neighbouring Malaysia A friend then referred him to a man named Baasyir The latter told Mr Pramono that he could help him to go to Malaysia illegally by boat where he would work as a cleaner earning a monthly wage of RM2,000 (US$478) Mr Pramono paid Baasyir 4.5 million rupiah to make the arrangements Baasyir told him to go to a designated point in downtown Medan on Sunday where he was picked up by an unknown person driving a van By then he was seated in a minivan full of other passengers he did not know Mr Pramono also said that he did not know that they would be taken to Tanjung Tiram district They arrived at a forested area on Sunday evening after paying to go to Malaysia only to end up in detention adding that he borrowed the money from his mother Among the 34 people caught by the authorities on Monday is 32-year-old Tanjung Balai native Ismail He then returned to Tanjung Balai to visit his family he could not return as the border was shut Putrajaya imposed a temporary freeze in the hiring of foreign migrant workers continued to work as a fisherman in his hometown But since he only earned 2.5 million rupiah per month he decided to try his luck and cross over again illegally he got in touch via phone calls with a man he never met but claimed could take him to Malaysia The fisherman followed his instruction to go to Menara Lima Mosque After handing the person 1.5 million rupiah “I have never taken an illegal route before I thought I was going to die,” he told CNA after being questioned by the police There were also illegal migrant workers from beyond Sumatra Central Java to return to Malaysia as a domestic worker she went to Pahang through an agent and worked as a caregiver earning about RM1,500 per month The 51-year-old earns about 2.5 million rupiah every month operating a laundromat But she is only left with 200,000 rupiah after paying her employee and other expenses She contacted the same agent who arranged for her employment in 2018 The latter said that she could return to Malaysia illegally and work as a domestic worker The agent bought her an air ticket to Medan She was informed that all travel expenses would subsequently be deducted from her first three-month salary Once she arrived at Medan’s Kualanamu airport on Saturday evening She was taken to a lodging and asked to get ready by 6pm the following day I thought it was just water,” said Mdm Eliati when interviewed by CNA “I was confident though that I could make it because I kept thinking about my children and their needs.” All 34 boat passengers are now with the local police for questioning North Sumatra who oversees the waters where the group was found We need to catch the real perpetrators,” he said who would then return them to their hometowns “Because most of them don’t know those so-called agents And if they manage to get to Malaysia smoothly He added that the military conducts patrol every other day but it is hard to catch illegal migrants The intercept in the early hours of Monday was his first since he was stationed at Tanjung Tiram last year our patrol area differs from one day to the other  “That’s why we also don’t know if a fisherman is actually a spy informing the perpetrators of our presence,” he pointed out adding that they managed to intercept the group on Feb 7 thanks to a tip-off from locals Indonesian Ambassador in Kuala Lumpur Hermono told CNA that the smuggling of migrant workers can only be eradicated by strengthening the prevention and prosecution of the perpetrators “I suggest the formation of a task force that works intensively and continuously with the support of adequate personnel and budget,” said the diplomat who goes by one name The Indonesian government is currently also working to finalise a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to prevent illegal migrations and ensure workers rights the secretary general with the manpower ministry said when asked by CNA But whatever regulations authorities will sign and implement to low-wage workers like Mr Pramono in Medan Get our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inbox Stay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best stories Join our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat app We know it's a hassle to switch browsers but we want your experience with CNA to be fast Upgraded but still having issues? Contact us Thai businesses shift to liquidity-preservation mode amid economic uncertainty and cash crunch Thunderstorms, heavy rain, and gusty winds expected across Thailand AMCHAM Gala 2025 raises Over 1.3M baht for scholarships Kaspersky reports surge in on-device cyberthreats against SEA businesses Vietnam, US to begin first trade talks on May 7 The uncertainly of the rule of law is one major reason Indonesia has failed to harness its diversity as a source of strength thousands took to the streets burning shops trucks and a church in a string of attacks sparked by religious tensions in western Java Indonesia has long denied the existence of tension between ethnic-religious communities in the country As Indonesia reels from the aftershock of the racially-motivated riot last week in Tanjungbalai there are already signs that the incident will be one among many to be swept under the carpet to preserve the facade of ethnic-religious harmony in Indonesia which saw the destruction and torching of 11 Buddhist and Chinese temples alongside a building belonging to a Chinese-community foundation is probably among the worst perpetrated against the minority Chinese Indonesians since 1998 complained to a Muslim cleric about the unusually loud volume of the loudspeakers used at a mosque near her house The cleric and many in his flock were reportedly incensed by what they deemed as an insult to Islam by a Chinese Indonesian and demanded an apology from Ms Meliana Large crowds then gathered in front of her house When they were prevented from doing so by the locals the masses went around the town attacking and burning buildings that they associated with the Chinese community This quick and absurd escalation of a personal dispute into a blanket targeting of visible Chinese symbols in Tanjungbalai points to a history of long and deep-seated unease between the Malay and Chinese population there some Islamic groups have been campaigning for the removal of a six-metre statue of the Buddha as part of the facade of the Tri Ratna Buddhist Temple for reputedly offending Muslim sensibilities Some people have suggested last week’s incident was the culmination of the dispute as is often the case with hate crimes in Indonesia the government’s instinct is to deny the existence of tension between ethnic-religious communities in the country newly appointed Police Chief Tito Karnavian told the media that “irresponsible and inflammatory” posts on social media were to blame While there is little doubt that social media is a powerful instrument in Indonesia — about 72 million Indonesians use it — to pinpoint it as being responsible for what happened in Tanjungbalai borders on fantasy While it may be true that there were agents provocateurs who incited the masses to riot most of them would have been on site rather than in cyberspace what Mr Karnavian failed to explain was why the police had failed to prevent the tragedy and contain the masses Consistent with other attacks on minority groups in recent memory such as the 2014 violence against a group of Catholics in Sleman on Java Island and the recurring attacks on Ahmadiyya Muslims in various localities the absence of police protection during the riot was staggeringly obvious and yet conveniently overlooked by Indonesian media Comments by Indonesia netizens on the riots — most of whom blamed Ms Meliana for daring to protest against the volume of the mosque’s loudspeaker — provide a clue as to how most Indonesians believe minority groups should conduct themselves in relation with the majority: With a lot of deferential kowtowing Parliamentarian Eva Kusuma Sundari swam against the populist tide when she said that Ms Meliana had committed no crime by complaining about the noise from the mosque’s loudspeakers in his capacity as chairman of the Council of Indonesian Mosques had urged discretion about the “noise pollution” that sound systems from mosques posed “So are we to say that Pak Jusuf Kalla committed a crime (when he encouraged mosques to limit their use of loudspeakers) (So for Ms Meliana) to protest was understandable Ms Sundari also correctly pointed out that a 1978 Minister of Religious Affairs decree had stated that the use of loudspeakers by mosques was permissible as long as it did not disturb others But the fact remains that most mosques in the country violate the directive co-existence between various ethnic and religious groups often hangs by a thread ready to burst into disarray by the slightest act of provocation Another important impediment in the management of pluralism lies with its education system Indonesia’s national curriculum mandates religious studies as an integral part of education rather than promote inter-religious tolerance religious classes more often than not result in the opposite the Ministry of Religious Affairs was forced to recall an officially approved textbook for madrasah schools for containing texts that label popular practices such as grave visits as heretical and the “worship of idols” by other religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism as sinful The incident was not the first instance of its kind and more worryingly there was no investigation into how the text had been approved in the first place Although Indonesia’s Constitution professes the republic to be secular the separation between state and religion is notoriously blurred The populist nature of Indonesian politics today also makes many Jakarta politicians officials and state agencies keen to avoid doing anything that could be seen as “anti-Islam” President Joko Widodo ordered that the responsible parties be brought to justice It remains to be seen how his order will be interpreted by his underlings “harmony” between the diverse groups in the country looks set to continue its charade at the expense of the rights of minority groups Johannes Nugroho is a writer and businessman from Surabaya Todayonline.com and Today Online domains and apps are now part of 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