Indonesian President’s Call for Unity Undermined by Local Religious Ban

The Kuningan Regency Government banned the Ahmadiyah Community from holding their Jalsah Salanah gathering, which was scheduled to take place from December 6 to 8, 2024, in Manislor Village, Jalaksana District. Officials cited potential threats to regional stability as the reason for the prohibition.

In a letter dated December 4, 2024, and signed electronically by the Acting Regent of Kuningan, the government prohibited the gathering. This decision was reinforced by another letter on December 5, 2024, signed by the Acting Regional Secretary of Kuningan, which gave the Ahmadiyah leadership an ultimatum to cease all event-related activities by 5:00 PM that day.

The ban came shortly after President Prabowo delivered a speech at the 112th anniversary of Muhammadiyah in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, on December 4. In his address, the President emphasized the importance of unity and harmony in diversity as a key to achieving national prosperity.

Amnesty International Indonesia has documented at least 122 cases of religious intolerance in Indonesia from January 2021 to September 2024. These incidents include the rejection, closure, or destruction of places of worship and physical attacks. Perpetrators reportedly include government officials, community members, and civil society organizations.

Such incidents underscore the challenges faced by religious minorities in Indonesia despite the country’s constitutional and international commitments to religious freedom. Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) guarantees every individual the right to practice their religion freely.

The ICCPR’s protections include the freedom to observe, practice, and teach one’s religion or beliefs. Similarly, Indonesia’s 1945 Constitution explicitly safeguards the right of every citizen to worship according to their beliefs under Articles 28E (1) and 29 (2).