Indonesian officials are threatening to move a community of displaced Shi'ite Muslims to another part of Indonesia if they refuse to convert to Sunni Islam. Authorities in East Java have told the group they must convert to Sunni Islam by March, or face relocation.About 165 Shi'ites have been camped out in a sports complex in East Java since August, after their village was stormed by about 500 people opposed to their beliefs. One person died and several others were wounded in the August attack in Sampang district, where many homes were burned to the ground.
Five people are reported to be awaiting trial for their role in the attack.
Amnesty International's Indonesia campaigner, Joseph Benedict said the violence may have been provoked by local Sunni leaders. He said, "They mobilised many of the villagers to attack the community. What we heard is that there's been a lot of incitement against the Shia community for many months leading up to the attack and we're also aware that the police were aware of the attack before it happened."
The Setara Institute of Peace says attacks on religious minorities have steadily increased since 2009, with more than 370 incidents committed last year alone. Bonar Tigor Naipsos, the institute's deputy director, said, "The target especially is the Christian minority and the second is the Ahmadiyya and the third is Shia and the fourth is an Islamic sect - they're accused because they are deviant or heretic."