Since the early 2000s, Blasphemy prosecutions and convictions have risen in the country,[1] but been criticized (by Amnesty International) for targeting religious minority groups and Islamic dissenters.
[2] Among the acts that have led to incarceration include reciting Muslim prayers in the Indonesian language;[3] using "paranormal healing methods" in drug and cancer treatment;[3] complaining about the volume of a mosque loudspeaker issuing call to prayer near the perpetrator's home;[4] eating pork rinds in a social media video;[2][1] serving free alcohol beverages for customers whose names were Muhammad and Maria.
The statutes apply to those who deviate from the religious tenets of one of Indonesia's six official religions: Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism.
[7] Until the end of the 20th century, Indonesian society was tolerant of Islam (87% of the population), Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Judaism, and animism.
[7] In January 2006, the Ministry of Religious Affairs accorded official status to six religions: Islam, Catholicism, Protestantism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Confucianism.
On 9 December 2006, the House of Representatives passed a new civil registration bill requiring citizens to identify themselves on government ID cards as a member of one of the six religions.
[3] The Government formed a body of Muslim advisors, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) in 1975, and continues to fund and appoint its members.