Indonesian app that allows uses to report 'misguided' religious beliefs criticised by human rights groups

Commissioner at national human rights agency warns neighbours could begin reporting each other 'causing social disintegration'

An Indonesian woman shows the newly launched 'Smart Pakem' smartphone application of Jakarta's prosecutor office (ADEK BERRY/AFP/Getty Images)

Human rights groups have warned about a newly launched mobile phone application which allows members of the Indonesian public to report religious beliefs they consider "misguided".

While the south east Asian nation has no state religion, it has traditionally required citizens to register as Muslim, Catholic, Protestant, Buddhist or Confucian.

Last year, the Constitutional Court affirmed the rights of faiths outside official religions after a challenge by some indigenous faiths.

However, rights groups have warned about about the use of strict blasphemy laws against minorities and the targeting of Islamic sects, such as Ahmadiyyah Muslims.

The app, called "Smart Pakem", was launched by the Jakarta Prosecutor's office. It features a list of groups including Ahmadiyyah as well as Gafatar, which the country's highest Islamic council considers a deviant sect.

It was not clear what the list represented, but some of the groups such as Gafatar have been outlawed.

The app has a link that allows members of the public to report organisations deemed harmful.

The app could have a "dangerous consequence by causing social disintegration", said Amiruddin Al-Rahab, a commissioner at Indonesia's National Commission on Human Rights.

"When neighbours are reporting each other, that would be problematic," Mr Al-Rahab said.

Despite facing a backlash from human rights groups, the free app was available for download on Google's Google Play store on Monday afternoon.

Mr Al-Rahab said since the app's features were not running in full it was unclear whether the prosecutor's office would include detailed guidance on the kind of organisation categorised as "harmful" or beliefs deemed as "misguided".

"Don't leave the people in confusion, if people are confused they will take matters into their own hands," he said, adding that the app could also contravene the Constitutional Court's ruling last year on the rights of devotees of faiths outside the state-recognised religions.

Yulianto, an official at the Jakarta Prosecutor's Office, was quoted by the news site Kompas.com saying the app aimed to educate people and to increase the transparency of the reporting process.

Indonesia's attorney general's office has the authority under the law to monitor religions in case beliefs are deemed a threat to the community and can establish teams to examine such claims.

Additional reporting by Reuters