Indonesia yesterday deployed security personnel to calm unrest in its northern Aceh Province after a mob burned down churches and killed one person in religious violence this week.
Indonesia has the world’s largest Muslim population, the majority of which practices a moderate form of Islam.
Aceh is the most conservative province in the country and the only one to abide by Islamic Shariah law.
“The situation in Aceh Singkil is calm now and under control,” national police spokesman Agus Rianto said by telephone, referring to the district where the attack took place.
“We are carrying out patrols in the area with the help of military troops,” Rianto added, declining to comment on the total number of personnel that had been deployed.
Rianto denied reports that thousands of people had evacuated Aceh Singkil in the wake of the attack on Tuesday.
Police said that 20 people had been arrested from a mob of about 500 that had burned down churches and threatened Christians, local media reported.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Wednesday called for a stop to the violence.
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