Dessy Sagita – Religious leaders on Tuesday criticized the Ministry of Religious Affairs for being against acknowledging religions and faiths other than the six major religions currently recognized by the state – Islam, Catholicism, Protestantism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Confucianism.
"If the government still wants Indonesia to be called a democratic country it should not limit the number of acknowledged religions, because freedom of religion is a basic human right," Father Dani Sanusi from the Indonesian Bishops Conference told the Jakarta Globe.
Antara News Agency reported that Minister of Religious Affairs Suryadharma Ali had asked the Constitutional Court to suspend its judicial review of the law on freedom of religion, requested by seven organizations that argued it limited freedom of religion.
Suryadharma was quoted as saying that he had asked the court to push back the review from January to February because the Ministry needed time to evaluate its position.
Suryadharma said a revision of the law would result in an uncontrollable mushrooming of faiths and religions saying, "It could be that in Indonesia, some 100 new religions would appear," Antara reported.
Sanusi said religious affairs should not be the state's concern and should be a matter for society and religious organizations instead.
Nathan Setiabudi, from the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI), said the government should have acknowledged all religions and beliefs instead of limiting itself to a few.
"I think the government limited the number of the acknowledged religions just to make administrative matters easier and more practical, but it means the government is not adequately appreciating the value of religions or beliefs," he said.
Nathan said the government should not forbid anyone from practicing his or her beliefs as long as their religious activities did not violate any law.
"The government should only monitor the practice of the beliefs, not limit what kind of beliefs should be followed," he said.
Said Agil Siradj, head of Nahdlatul Ulama, the country's largest Muslim organization, said that despite the freedom of religion, the government had the right to set up any policy it considered proper and necessary.
"The government should really listen to what its people want, and try its best to find a way to accommodate those demands as long as the faith is not a creed that damages another religion's status," he said.
Nasaruddin Umar, director general for Islamic guidance at the Religious Affairs Ministry, said the issue of the recognition of the six religions was still being debated within the Ministry.
"There are some misconceptions about the law. Just because other religions are not listed doesn't mean they are not acknowledged," he said.