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Old footage of an event at the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta to commemorate Indonesia’s independence has resurfaced in posts falsely claiming it shows Christians celebrating Christmas at the Muslim place of worship and an example of religious tolerance “going too far”. A senior mosque official refuted the claim, and the group that organised the event said attendees wore red and white — the colours of Indonesia’s flag — as a “symbol of love for the country”. <\/p>\n
“For the first time, Christmas was celebrated at the Istiqlal Mosque. Christians and Muslims were mixed together, hypocrites and wicked. Astaghfirullaah (may God spare me),” reads part of the Indonesian-language caption of a Facebook video<\/a> shared on December 29, 2025.<\/p>\n “This is what it means by religious tolerance that is going too far.”<\/p>\n The nearly four minute video shows people wearing clothing that resembles a Santa Claus costume, singing Indonesia’s national anthem.<\/p>\n Christians account for around 11 percent of the population in Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, according to the Pew Research Center<\/a> (archived link<\/a>).<\/p>\n The US Commission on International Religious Freedom<\/a> said in September 2025 that while Indonesia’s constitution guarantees religious freedom and religious tolerance is promoted, religious minorities in the country “continue to experience systematic and ongoing discrimination” (archived link<\/a>).<\/p>\n Local media has also reported<\/a> on issues<\/a> faced by religious minorities\u00a0in 2025 (archived\u00a0here<\/a> and here<\/a>).<\/p>\n