VOA标准英语2008年-Rights Groups Condemn Indonesia's Restrictions

By Nancy-Amelia Collins
Jakarta
10 June 2008

International and local rights groups condemned¹ the restrictions² imposed by the Indonesian government on a Muslim sect³, saying the move restricts religious freedom. VOA's Nancy-Amelia Collins has more from Jakarta.
　

Follower4 of Ahmadiyah Muslim sect prays at mosque5 in Jakarta, 10 Jun 2008

The international rights watchdog Human Rights Watch and the Indonesian human rights group Kontras have condemned the government's newly imposed restrictions against the moderate Muslim sect Ahmadiyah.

The decree, signed Monday night, by the home minister, the religious affairs minister and the attorney general, orders Ahmadiyah members to "stop spreading beliefs" which deviate⁶ from the principal teachings of Islam including the belief "that there is another prophet with his own teachings after Prophet Mohammad."

Violations⁷ of the decree are punishable by up to five years in jail.

Ahmadiyah followers⁸ believe Mohammad is not the last prophet - a belief that many Muslims find heretical.

On June 1, the militant⁹ Islamic Defenders¹⁰ Front attacked a peaceful rally for religious tolerance¹¹ in Jakarta, injuring a dozen people.

Usman Hamid, the coordinator¹² of Kontras, says the government is not taking action to protect the people's right of religious freedom, which is enshrined in the constitution.

"The government has not been able to protect citizens from violence, from prosecutions¹³ committed by hard-line groups. This is a serious, serious problem in Indonesia … we have been able to achieve several political reforms, political freedom. But the case of Ahmadiyah undermines the image of reform even more starkly¹⁴ because religious freedom has been attacked after 10 years of reform in Indonesia," said Usman Hamid.

Islamic Defenders Front members are known for their attacks against bars and night clubs, during the Muslim holy month, Ramadan. In recent months, members have stepped up attacks against Ahmadiyah members and their supporters.
　

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono delivers speech at palace in Jakarta, 07 May 2007

Last week, after Indonesian President Suslio Bambang Yudhoyono condemned the violence against the rally for religious tolerance, the police arrested more than 50 front members.

But the alleged¹⁵ leader of the attack, Munarman, evaded¹⁶ arrest and has issued a video from his hideout saying he will not surrender until the government bans Ahmadiyah.

Monday, several thousands Islamic Defenders Front members, wearing white Islamic robes and skullcaps, protested outside the presidential palace, demanding the government ban Ahmadiyah.

Critics say President Yudhoyono may have allowed the restrictions against Ahmadiyah, as a compromise to appease¹⁷ the small-but-vocal minority hardliners while trying to preserve the country's image as a tolerant nation.

Tuesday, Human Rights Watch issued a statement calling on the government to protect religious minorities in the country and reverse the decree against Ahmadiyah.

Indonesia has the world's largest Muslim population, with the vast majority practicing a moderate form of the faith.

1 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

2 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

3 sect   

n.派别，宗教，学派，派系

参考例句：

• When he was sixteen he joined a religious sect.他16岁的时候加入了一个宗教教派。
• Each religious sect in the town had its own church.该城每一个宗教教派都有自己的教堂。

4 follower   

n.跟随者；随员；门徒；信徒

参考例句：

• He is a faithful follower of his home football team.他是他家乡足球队的忠实拥护者。
• Alexander is a pious follower of the faith.亚历山大是个虔诚的信徒。

5 mosque   

n.清真寺

参考例句：

• The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
• Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前，清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。

6 deviate   

v.(from)背离，偏离

参考例句：

• Don't deviate from major issues.不要偏离主要问题。
• I will never deviate from what I believe to be right.我绝不背离我自信正确的道路。

7 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

8 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

9 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

10 defenders   

n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者

参考例句：

• The defenders were outnumbered and had to give in. 抵抗者寡不敌众，只能投降。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• After hard fighting,the defenders were still masters of the city. 守军经过奋战仍然控制着城市。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 tolerance   

n.宽容；容忍，忍受；耐药力；公差

参考例句：

• Tolerance is one of his strengths.宽容是他的一个优点。
• Human beings have limited tolerance of noise.人类对噪音的忍耐力有限。

12 coordinator   

n.协调人

参考例句：

• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, headed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, coordinates all UN emergency relief. 联合国人道主义事务协调厅在紧急救济协调员领导下，负责协调联合国的所有紧急救济工作。
• How am I supposed to find the client-relations coordinator? 我怎么才能找到客户关系协调员的办公室？

13 prosecutions   

起诉( prosecution的名词复数 )； 原告； 实施； 从事

参考例句：

• It is the duty of the Attorney-General to institute prosecutions. 检察总长负责提起公诉。
• Since World War II, the government has been active in its antitrust prosecutions. 第二次世界大战以来，政府积极地进行着反对托拉斯的检举活动。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件

14 starkly   

adj. 变硬了的,完全的 adv. 完全,实在,简直

参考例句：

• The city of Befast remains starkly divided between Catholics and Protestants. 贝尔法斯特市完全被处在天主教徒和新教徒的纷争之中。
• The black rocks stood out starkly against the sky. 那些黑色的岩石在天空衬托下十分显眼。

15 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

16 evaded   

逃避( evade的过去式和过去分词 )； 避开； 回避； 想不出

参考例句：

• For two weeks they evaded the press. 他们有两周一直避而不见记者。
• The lion evaded the hunter. 那狮子躲开了猎人。

17 appease   

v.安抚，缓和，平息，满足

参考例句：

• He tried to appease the crying child by giving him candy.他试图给那个啼哭的孩子糖果使他不哭。
• The government tried to appease discontented workers.政府试图安抚不满的工人们。