INDONESIA (ANS) -- The United Nations human rights chief has called on Indonesia to take "firm action" against increasing violence towards religious minorities and "narrow and extremist interpretations of Islam."

Navi Pillay

According to Barnabas Aid ( http://www.barnabasfund.org/ - www.barnabasfund.org ), Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, met with representatives of the Christian, Ahmadiyya, Shia and traditional belief communities on a visit to the country.

She said on November 13th: "I was distressed to hear accounts of violent attacks, forced displacement, denial of identification cards and other forms of discrimination and harassment against them. I was also concerned to hear that the police have been failing to provide adequate protection in these cases."

Protests by a Muslim extremist fringe has led to the closure of Christian places of worship in the province of Aceh

Ms. Pillay said that she was "particularly concerned to hear about the arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement of sharia law in Aceh," where the "brutal punishments of stoning and caning" are being implemented. She said raids on places where people gather were "creating an environment of intimidation and fear."

Barnabas Aid said that the plight of female victims of violence was also highlighted; Ms. Pillay said that she was shocked to hear about the level of discrimination and injustices that they suffered.

Indonesia's high rate of ratification of international human rights treaties was commended, but the human rights chief said that these commitments needed to be translated into domestic law.

One of the closed churches in Aceh

She said that the country "has a rich culture and history of diversity and tolerance" but risked losing this if it does not take action to address growing violence and hatred towards religious minorities, and narrow and extremist interpretations of Islam.

"Rights groups say that violence against minorities has been escalating since 2008," said a spokesperson for Barnabas Aid.

Two churches in particular have suffered intense and prolonged persecution from both the authorities and Islamic hard-liners.

The Mayor of Bogor has refused to comply with a Supreme Court ruling that GKI Yasmin's church building, which has been illegally sealed off since 2008, be re-opened.

The congregation has been holding services on the street or in private homes and has faced much harassment from local Muslims.

Filadelfia Batak Christian Protestant Church (HKBP) is going through a similar ordeal. Its building was sealed off by the authorities in January 2010 following three years of legal wrangling over a permit.

Two Acehnese girls hold candles during the celebration of Christmas at the Hati Kudus Church Source: wlmailhtml:05C96971-100B-42E4-9878-5C3E6D95571Bmid://0000001 9/!x-usc:http://www.assistnews.net/ -