Cilegon: Indonesian Most Intolerant City 2022

Tolerance has always been a hot issue for Indonesian in recent years. As a big country that has a lot of tribes, races, languages and even religions, the complication of tolerance is like a prevalent problem in Indonesia. In fact, Imparsial as the Indonesian human rights monitor reported that 26 cases of tolerance issues has happened throughout 2022.

Setara institute has released Tolerant Cities Index report 2022. The Tolerant Cities Index (TCI) Report 2022 is the result of quantification conducted by the Setara Institute to promote the best tolerance practices of cities in Indonesia. The study involved 94 cities out of total 98 cities in Indonesia. Surprisingly, Cilegon is in the last position lower than other 93 cities. Former mayor of Cilegon Edi hariadi once said that Cilegon is one of the Most religious cities in Indonesia. Then, how can Cilegon as one of the most religius cities be the most intolerant city ?

As one of the most religious city in Indonesia, Cilegon citizens profess 5 different religions with this percentage :

1. Islam 97,64%

2. Protestan 1,54%

3. Katolik 0,40 %

4. Buddha 0,37%

5. Hindu 0,05%

Based on the percentage above, moslem is in the first place as a majority. Does that mean that the religiousness that exist only comes from the moslem ? Most people Will answer yes but it is actually not that simple. 

Cases of tolerance often occur in Cilegon, Specifically in terms of religion. One example of this is citizens' resistance to church construction. They do not want the church and any other worship place to be constructed. It is so ironic that one of the most religious cities in Indonesia only has a place of worship for only 1 religion. 

People begin to wonder  why only a mosque with no church and any other worship place? . Most people refuse the construction of the church and any other worship place for two reasons. First, Cilegon citizens are worried about the christianization. The question is will the moslem around the church be christian right after the church constructed? obvoiusly no. The christians will certainly be tolerant to us by not interfering  our affairs as moslem. Second, christians in Cilegon have not gathered the minimum limit of community support that must also be authorized by local officials. This became an administrative reason that also caused the church costruction to be rejected

In the end, tolerance is still a task for Indonesia as a country with a great level of diversity. As good citizen, preserving tolerance is our obligation that we must continue which is also a way of upkeeping peace and respecting the endeavor of independence.

This article was written as a final exam task in paragraph writing subject that is lectured by Ma'am Ulil Fitriyah, M.Pd., M.Ed.

Thank you.

Be Tolerant !