US State Department Says Indonesia Failing to Protect Religious Minorities

The U.S. State Department's 2012 report on International Religious Freedom has claimed that the Indonesian government has failed to protect individuals who are targeted for their religious beliefs.

The U.S. Embassy in Jakarta released the annual report on Tuesday.

"The Indonesian government has failed to properly address the banning and assault of religious minority groups," The Jakarta Post reported.

"The Indonesian government honors the freedom to choose religion but fails to prevent violent acts toward religious minority groups," a statement in the report read.

According to the report, the Indonesia government recognizes six religions; however clerics view some religious sects as "deviant."

The report also noted the leniency of the policy towards hard-liners trying to implement laws which would restrict religious freedoms. The report also highlighted the failure of the police to protect minority groups from being attacked by hard-liners.