Despite Efforts to Promote Religious Tolerance and Reduce Terrorism, Indonesia’s Laws Limit Religious Freedom

Despite Efforts to Promote Religious Tolerance and Reduce Terrorism, Indonesia's Laws Limit Religious Freedom

Washington, DC - The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released a country update on religious freedom conditions in Indonesia following a commissioner-led delegation to the country in May 2025.

Indonesia Country Update - This report provides an update on religious freedom conditions in Indonesia. While the state has taken steps to promote religious tolerance and reduce incidents of religiously motivated terrorism, it has also continued to employ legal frameworks-including a presidential decree and the Criminal Code-to regulate religion, criminalize blasphemy, and broadly infringe on freedom of religion or belief. Indonesia's religious minorities continue to experience systematic and ongoing discrimination while facing challenges in obtaining official recognition, conducting religious activities, and constructing houses of worship.

USCIRF has recommended Indonesia for the U.S. Department of State's Special Watch List (SWL) since 2020, including in the 2025 Annual Report, and for the equivalent designations from 2003 to 2019, for the country's systematic and ongoing violations of religious freedom.

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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress, intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].