Human Rights Minister: Sealed Worship Place in Tangerang Has Been Reopened

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai stated that the worship place of the Persekutuan Oikoumene Umat Kristen (POUK) Tesalonika congregation in Teluknaga, Tangerang, Banten, which was sealed a few days ago, has been reopened. During a working meeting with Commission XIII of the DPR RI at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday, Pigai said the reopening of the seal was carried out after coordination with various parties, including the Banten Regional Office of the Ministry of Human Rights. “The Ministry of Human Rights has paid attention to this case. The Banten regional office, after coordinating with various groups, has carried out the unsealing,” the Minister stated. Thus, according to him, the polemic has been resolved. “We have made efforts and have opened the sealing at the Tesalonika congregation in Banten. It’s done. If that’s settled,” he said. Initially in the meeting, Commission XIII DPR RI member Edison Sitorus raised the issue of the polemic regarding the sealing of the POUK Tesalonika congregation’s worship place in Teluknaga, Tangerang, Banten. “In Tangerang, Mr Minister, there was a sealing of the POUK congregation’s place in Teluknaga Subdistrict on 3 April after the Good Friday worship; the sealing of the worship place was carried out by the Civil Police,” said Edison. According to him, this incident has violated the human rights of Christians. “I request, Mr Minister, what is your response to this incident and its solutions? I am frankly a Muslim, but when people of other religions have no freedom of religion, I think this has violated human rights,” he added. It is known that the sealing of the POUK Tesalonika congregation’s worship place in Tangerang occurred on Friday (3/4) after the Good Friday worship. The sealing was allegedly carried out due to building permit issues. This action was condemned by the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (PGI). In its statement, PGI understands the importance of compliance with regulations, including building permits. However, PGI views that the enforcement of rules should not be done at the expense of citizens’ basic rights. “This incident hurts the feelings of Christians entering the Easter celebration and damages the nation’s commitment to freedom of religion and worship as guaranteed in the 1945 Constitution, particularly Articles 28E and 29,” said PGI’s Executive Secretary for Justice and Peace, Etika Saragih, on Saturday (4/4).