Ministry of Human Rights to Regulate Religious Freedom Guarantees in Revised Human Rights Law

Deputy Minister of Human Rights Mugiyanto has stated that the Ministry will regulate religious freedom guarantees within the revision of Law No. 39 of 1999 on Human Rights. This move aims to prevent recurrence of incidents such as the disruption of worship services experienced by the Gereja Misi Sejahtera (GMS) congregation in Padukuhan Glugo, Panggungharjo, Sewon, Bantul on Sunday, 24 May 2026. ‘To prevent such actions from recurring, the Ministry of Human Rights will provide a stronger legal framework for the protection of freedom of religion and belief by incorporating it into the ongoing revision of Law No. 39 of 1999 on Human Rights,’ Mugiyanto told Kompas.com on Thursday, 28 May 2026. ‘The Ministry of Human Rights has urged all parties to comply with the Constitution and existing regulations regarding the implementation of religious freedom and worship,’ he added. Mugiyanto explained that, from a human rights perspective, the construction of places of worship is an expression of the fundamental right to religion and worship. ‘This right is absolute, though the procedural or physical requirements for construction may be restricted to maintain public order and the rights of others,’ he added. The primary regulations require administrative compliance, technical building standards, and local community support. He noted that in Bantul Regency, the guidelines for building places of worship are governed by Regent Regulation No. 98 of 2016. ‘The Ministry of Human Rights has called on law enforcement to take a firm stance against anyone engaging in violent acts of intolerance towards citizens exercising their human rights,’ he stressed.