Ministry of Human Rights Proposes Bill on Religious Freedom

The Ministry of Human Rights has proposed the formation of a Bill on Religious Freedom to guarantee justice and freedom of expression for all holders of beliefs in Indonesia.

Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai stated that his agency has opened discussions with the Ministry of Religious Affairs regarding this proposal. However, he did not explain in detail when those discussions took place.

“Only the Minister of Religious Affairs said it couldn’t be done, if it’s a Bill for the Protection of the Religious Community,” said Pigai during a working meeting with Commission XIII of the House of Representatives, on Tuesday, 7 April 2026.

Hearing that response, Pigai recounted that he posed a follow-up question. He noted that if what is accommodated is a Bill for the Protection of the Religious Community, then the government can only provide protection to recognised religions.

He reminded that Indonesia has local belief groups, for example, Sunda Wiwitan which is spread across West Java and Banten.

However, he continued, this proposal is still in the debate phase. Moreover, the paradigm guiding Indonesia still focuses on protection efforts, not freedom.

“But who knows, in 2027 or 2028 we can find a meeting point,” said Pigai.

The proposal for the formation of the Bill on Religious Freedom was conveyed by Pigai in response to reports of numerous ongoing cases of intolerance and religious-based violence in Indonesia.

Most recently, an intolerance case occurred last Friday. The home of the congregation of the Ecumenical Fellowship of Christian Believers or POUK Tesalonika in Teluknaga Subdistrict, Tangerang, Banten, was sealed after the congregation held Good Friday worship.

The Tangerang Regency Government’s Civil Service Police Unit attached paper as a sealing marker and cut the nameplate of the prayer house foundation.

They used Tangerang Regency Regulation Number 13 of 2022 as the reason for the sealing. That public order regulation governs building permits or PBG for places of worship.