JAKARTA, Indonesia – Incidents of religious violence and intolerance are on the rise in Indonesia, according to the Wahid Institute, a Muslim organization that promotes tolerance.

2011 was the worst year Indonesia has recorded for religious freedom since Wahid started observing the issue in 2008, Rumadi Ahmad, program coordinator at the institute, told The Jakarta Globe on Thursday (December 29th). According to the institute, the number of incidents stemming from religious intolerance grew from 198 last year to 276 in 2011.

Thirty-six new laws had been drafted or enacted that banned religious practices seen as deviant from Islam, he said.

According to the institute, the trend was most severe in West Java, which promulgated 10 religious bylaws and also saw 160 recorded incidences of religious violence and intolerance.

The issue was at the forefront recently after members of GKI Yasmin in Bogor were blocked by protestors from entering the congregation for Christmas worship.

Ahmad Suaedy, executive director of the Wahid Institute, told The Jakarta Post that the central government needs to take a stronger role in protecting religious freedoms after the GKI Yasmin incident showed many local bodies weren't honoring existing laws.