Incitement to religious hate law sought
Incitement to religious hate law sought
JAKARTA (JP): A political and religious observer has
underlined the need for an incitement to religious hatred law to
deal with provocateurs in interreligious conflicts, who have so
far managed to escape any legal sanction.
Azyumardi Azra, rector of the Jakarta State Institute for
Islamic Studies (IAIN), said on Wednesday that the existing law
was not sufficient to charge those who provoke interreligious
conflicts.
The current law only gives a legal basis to charge anyone who
does something that offends people of other religions, he said.
However, according to Azyumardi, what is considered offensive
for some people does not automatically constitute a crime.
"This may be acceptable if someone has to give an opinion on
other religions as part of the religion teaching process in their
religious community," Azyumardi told a discussion on religious
issues at the Habibie Centre.
"What we should watch out for is the possibility of anyone who
has the intention to use the issue to provoke interreligious
conflicts," he added.
He pointed out one case as an example. The Bandung Ulemas'
Forum has recently reported two Jakarta-based Protestant priests
to the city police over their statements which are considered to
have insulted Muslims.
According to the forum, the two priests had said that the
Moslems' God was the hajar aswad, the black stone in front of the
Kaaba holy shrine in Mecca, and that the divine revelations which
had been received by Prophet Muhammad came from the devils.
Azyumardi said the law should have been available as the legal
basis for charging anyone who intended to use the priests'
statements to provoke conflict between the two religions, instead
of charging the two priests themselves.
He also said the prolonged conflicts between the Muslims and
the Christians in Maluku was not due to any religious reason.
"It was caused by political reasons," he said, adding that the
lack of government concern on this matter had worsened the
situation.
Priest Nus Riemas earlier said that openness was badly needed
to prevent any interreligious conflict, especially in dealing
with any effort to provoke the people.
Former minister of justice Muladi, who also joined the
discussion, said the government is preparing an additional
chapter on religious offenses for the new Criminal Code.
The existing law classifies a religious crime as a public
order violation, he added. (04)