Minister Pigai Proposes Religious Freedom Bill to Prevent Intolerance

Minister of Human Rights (HAM), Natalius Pigai, has proposed the establishment of a Religious Freedom Bill (RUU) amid growing concerns over intolerance issues. Pigai emphasised that cases of intolerance can occur in both majority and minority areas. “The further east you go, Muslims also suffer. NTT is the same. In Bali, people who are not of the majority religion there also suffer. Other regions experience the same,” Pigai stated during a working meeting with Commission XIII of the DPR RI on Tuesday (7/4). Pigai said the proposal for the bill has been discussed with the Minister of Religious Affairs, but differences in views remain. “The Ministry of HAM has proposed it and discussed it with the Minister of Religious Affairs. I want to introduce the Religious Freedom for the Faithful Act. But the Minister said, ‘No, Mr Pigai, if it’s the Faithful Protection Act’,” Pigai recounted. According to Pigai, the “protection” approach would only safeguard the seven religions recognised by the state, failing to accommodate all belief groups, particularly adherents of local religions. “What about those who follow Wiwitan or local religions? So we propose the Religious Freedom for the Faithful Act, but for now, this country is still guided by the Faithful Protection Act,” Pigai said. “So he uses protection, I propose freedom. This is still a debate,” he added. On that occasion, Pigai also rejected the notion that West Java is an intolerant region. He said intolerance cases are rare in West Java. “That’s just a negative opinion that has been built up for a long time, as if West Java is intolerant. This is based on my experience, my monitoring, my research. But West Java only has one case that emerged, and it’s considered extraordinary that West Java is intolerant,” he stated.