Combating Intolerance in the Political Year

This document is the English-language edition of the SETARA Institute’s annual report titled “Combating Intolerance in the Political Year: Conditions of Freedom of Religion/Belief in Indonesia in 2018”.

This report provides an overview of the situation and conditions regarding freedom of religion and belief (KBB) in Indonesia during 2018. Specifically, this report highlights the significant challenges in preserving diversity amid the “political year” (coinciding with the 2018 simultaneous regional elections and preparations for the 2019 general and presidential elections). This document analyzes how religious sentiment and acts of intolerance are often exploited or escalate as a result of electoral political dynamics. The report also presents statistical data on the number of incidents and violations, their geographic distribution, and identifies both state and non-state actors involved in violations of freedom of religion.