The Indonesian Muslim Congress, meeting under new President Joko Widodo, has re-stated that Indonesian Islam could serve as a model, at the international level, to present a “harmonious society” in which Muslims live and work peacefully side by side with believers of other religions.

President Widodo said “Indonesia is a moderate nation, and we live with reciprocal respect among believers”.

The Minister for Religious Affairs, Lukman Hakim Saifuddin confirmed “the guaranteed constitutional right of Indonesians of whatever religion, culture or ethnic origin to practice their religion in freedom and peace, recalling Indonesia’s guiding principle “unity in diversity”. However as World Watch Monitor has reported Christians still hope to see legal churches reopened.