Challenges in Protecting Minorities in Democratic State: Lessons Learned from Indonesia

In the past decade, religious freedom in Indonesia, especially in relation to the rights of religious minorities, has been imperiled. Some reports claim that incidents of religious conflict have been partially driven by the rise of religious fundamentalism. However, such conflict is also triggered by the enactment of policies and regulations that discriminate against minorities and reinforce their vulnerable position within society. Furthermore, the unclear segregation of interreligious public spheres causes social and religious disharmony, frequently resulting in the persecution of these minorities and the abuse of their various human rights.