"If Iran is absent then the meeting will be unsuccessful," said Ahmad Suaedy, the chairman of the Wahid Institute.

In Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, citizens are defined on their identity cards and passports by race and religion.

The Kompas-Gramedia Research Group (KKG) has donated Rp 20 million worth of books and cash to the Wahid Institute in order to assist in the development of its new library.

While the central government is largely upholding the principles enshrined in the creation of the Indonesian Republic, regional governments are destroying national unity by implementing sharia law in their local by laws.

The Wahid Institute in cooperation with the Asia Foundation (TAF) held a training session on paralegal advocacy in Jakarta from February 24-27.

The state has no place interfering in matters of worship because the Constitution guarantees people the freedom to believe in the religion of their choice, the Wahid Institute executive director says.