Review planned of decree on worship places<\/p>\n
Blontank Poer and Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Surakarta\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Minister of Home Affairs M. Ma'ruf says the government has
\ndecided to review a controversial ministerial decree issued in
\n1969 that some Christians claim has stopped them from building
\nchurches.<\/p>\n
The concession comes amid rising criticism toward the
\ngovernment for taking minimal action while Muslim hard-liners
\nforcibly closed down dozens of churches in West Java over the
\npast year.<\/p>\n
\"We have to realize that Indonesia is a pluralistic nation,
\nlet's show some tolerance in society,\" Ma'ruf said on Tuesday as
\nquoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
Ma'ruf said the decree was no longer relevant and needed to be
\nreviewed as it came into effect more than 35 years ago.<\/p>\n
The decree, jointly issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs and
\nthe Ministry of Religious Affairs, stipulates that those who want
\nto set up houses of worship require permission from the local
\ncommunity and local administration.<\/p>\n
The ruling has forced some Christians to hold services in
\nhouses, shops and other commercial buildings due to difficulties
\nin obtaining the necessary permits. Christians account for about
\nnine percent of the country's more than 220 million population,
\nthe majority of whom are Muslims.<\/p>\n
Muslim hard-liners grouped in the Anti-Apostasy Alliance
\nMovement (AGAP) have shut down over the last year churches, many
\nof which are unlicensed, in West Java's capital of Bandung and
\nneighboring areas.<\/p>\n
An executive of the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI)
\nAndreas A. Yewangoe reported last week to President Susilo
\nBambang Yudhoyono that 23 churches in Bandung had been forcibly
\nclosed by the hard-line group between September of last year and
\nAugust of this year.<\/p>\n
Two other closures were confirmed last week in Bandung and
\nJakarta. Some of the churches did not have any permit as they
\nwere located in residential areas.<\/p>\n
The closure of the churches has sparked criticism, including
\nfrom moderate Muslim figures, who have called on the police to
\ntake action.<\/p>\n
Responding to the move by the hard-line groups, Ma'ruf said
\nthat the country had laws and that people who violated them
\ndeserved to be punished.<\/p>\n
Separately, the head of the country's largest Muslim
\norganization Nadhlatul Ulama (NU), Hasyim Muzadi, urged on
\nTuesday the National Police to take action against the groups who
\nhad taken the law into their own hands by closing down the
\nchurches.<\/p>\n
\"It is forbidden (of Muslims) to take over the police's
\nauthority in upholding the law,\" Hasyim said.<\/p>\n
Hasyim said that Muslims should not interfere with the case
\nbut let the police do their work, underlining that the Koran
\nstrongly rejected the idea of disturbing others religious
\nactivities.<\/p>\n
Separately, the National Police said they would further their
\ninvestigation before naming any suspects.<\/p>\n
National Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Saud Usman Nasution said
\nthat regional police were investigating the case to find out
\nwhether they (the hard-line groups) had violated the law in
\nclosing down the churches.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/review-planned-of-decree-on-worship-places-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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