Government to revise decree on places of worship
Government to revise decree on places of worship
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The government will give authority to existing interfaith forums
to issue permits for the establishment of places of worship, a
move that is expected to help end conflict in the setting up of
houses of worship.
The interfaith forum is an independent grouping of leaders
from various faiths set up at a regional level with a mission to
settle religion-related disputes.
The decision to give the forum greater authority was made
during a meeting of top government officials on Wednesday at the
Ministry of Home Affairs. The officials, including Minister of
Home Affairs M. Ma'ruf, Attorney General Abdul Rahman Saleh,
Minister of Religious Affairs M. Maftuh Basyuni as well as
Minister of Justice and Human Rights Hamid Awaluddin, gathered to
finalize a revision to the 1969 joint ministerial decree, which
stipulates that those wanting to establish houses of worship must
obtain approval from local administrations and get the consent of
residents.
Christians, a small minority in this country, consider the
decree to have created difficulties for them in setting up
churches, particularly in predominantly Muslim regions.
Controversy over the decree has emerged following recent actions
by Muslim hard-liners in closing down Christian houses of worship
in West Java that do not possess the necessary permits. The
actions have been strongly criticized by both Christian and
Muslim leaders, and prompted the government to revise the
controversial decree.
"The establishment of a house of worship in an area will
consider the opinion of interfaith leaders. It will be done by
the FKUB. Local administration heads would only coordinate it,"
Ma'ruf told reporters after the meeting, referring to the acronym
for interfaith forums.
He said that the government would stipulate the role of the
interfaith forum in the revised circular, which is expected to be
finalized later this month.
"Currently, we have FKUB in all regions. But, the (existing)
decree does not involve them. There will be a mechanism between
authorities in the Ministry of Religious Affairs, local
administrations and the interfaith forum in a certain area,"
Ma'ruf said.
Local administration heads will also be given a role in
"maintaining interfaith harmony" by coordinating the interfaith
forum and the religious affairs agencies in the regions.
The minister said that the revision to the decree was
necessary because it was quite outdated.
"The decree was made in 1969. Now, we are in the era of
decentralization and regional autonomy. We expect a kind of
delegation by governors and regents or mayors to the village
level."
The decree, signed 24 years ago by then minister of religious
affairs Moh. Dahlan and home minister Amir Machmud has been
blamed for the closure of several Christian houses of worship
recently.
Ma'ruf said that the revisions to the joint ministerial decree
would not be subject to multiple interpretations and would be
made in order to protect the rights of citizens to carry out
their religious activities.
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The government will give authority to existing interfaith forums
to issue permits for the establishment of places of worship, a
move that is expected to help end conflict in the setting up of
houses of worship.
The interfaith forum is an independent grouping of leaders
from various faiths set up at a regional level with a mission to
settle religion-related disputes.
The decision to give the forum greater authority was made
during a meeting of top government officials on Wednesday at the
Ministry of Home Affairs. The officials, including Minister of
Home Affairs M. Ma'ruf, Attorney General Abdul Rahman Saleh,
Minister of Religious Affairs M. Maftuh Basyuni as well as
Minister of Justice and Human Rights Hamid Awaluddin, gathered to
finalize a revision to the 1969 joint ministerial decree, which
stipulates that those wanting to establish houses of worship must
obtain approval from local administrations and get the consent of
residents.
Christians, a small minority in this country, consider the
decree to have created difficulties for them in setting up
churches, particularly in predominantly Muslim regions.
Controversy over the decree has emerged following recent actions
by Muslim hard-liners in closing down Christian houses of worship
in West Java that do not possess the necessary permits. The
actions have been strongly criticized by both Christian and
Muslim leaders, and prompted the government to revise the
controversial decree.
"The establishment of a house of worship in an area will
consider the opinion of interfaith leaders. It will be done by
the FKUB. Local administration heads would only coordinate it,"
Ma'ruf told reporters after the meeting, referring to the acronym
for interfaith forums.
He said that the government would stipulate the role of the
interfaith forum in the revised circular, which is expected to be
finalized later this month.
"Currently, we have FKUB in all regions. But, the (existing)
decree does not involve them. There will be a mechanism between
authorities in the Ministry of Religious Affairs, local
administrations and the interfaith forum in a certain area,"
Ma'ruf said.
Local administration heads will also be given a role in
"maintaining interfaith harmony" by coordinating the interfaith
forum and the religious affairs agencies in the regions.
The minister said that the revision to the decree was
necessary because it was quite outdated.
"The decree was made in 1969. Now, we are in the era of
decentralization and regional autonomy. We expect a kind of
delegation by governors and regents or mayors to the village
level."
The decree, signed 24 years ago by then minister of religious
affairs Moh. Dahlan and home minister Amir Machmud has been
blamed for the closure of several Christian houses of worship
recently.
Ma'ruf said that the revisions to the joint ministerial decree
would not be subject to multiple interpretations and would be
made in order to protect the rights of citizens to carry out
their religious activities.