Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – The odds are stacked against non-Muslims who want to build places of worship because the new joint ministerial decree on their construction is actually more restrictive than its predecessor, a religious figure says.
Hasyim Muzadi, chairman of the country's largest Muslim organization, Nadhlatul Ulama (NU), said too many interests had been accommodated in the decree, although he did not agree with allegations that it restricted religious freedom and was thereby unconstitutional.
"We previously warned church figures against revising the old joint decree because of fresh fears a more restrictive one would emerge in view of the numerous interests of religious communities. What we most feared is a reality. Now, we can do nothing because it is already in place," he said Monday at a gathering of alumni of modern Islamic boarding school Darussalam Gontor in Ponorogo, East Java.
Despite the restrictions, Hasyim said the NU would aim to bring about increased cooperation with other religions in an effort to mediate with authorities and the Muslim community in the construction of their houses of worship.
"The NU will help create field conditions in which non-Muslims face no difficulties in obtaining building permits and no security problems in constructing churches, temples or other houses of worship. That is how important it is to create harmony among religious communities," he said.
According to joint Ministerial Decree No. 1/2006, which was issued by Religious Affairs Minister Maftuh Basyuni and Home Minister Moh. Ma'ruf last Tuesday, both administrative and technical requirements must be met before a building permit for a house of worship is issued.
Ninety people must sign a statement expressing their intent to worship at the new building and 60 locals put their names to a statement saying they have no objections to its construction. Written recommendations must also come from the regency office of the religious affairs ministry and the Joint Forum for Religious Harmony.
The decree, which met strong opposition from Christian communities and more than 40 legislators, replaces joint ministerial decree No. 1/1969, which required at least 100 signatures of locals before a permit was issued for the establishment of a church, or a temple, in a certain region.
The chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly, Hidayat Nur Wahid, and Deputy House Speaker Zainal Ma'arif are optimistic the new decree will create religious harmony in society.
"Such a restrictive regulation is also made in predominantly Hindu or Catholic countries, and it is needed to avoid sectarian conflicts among religious communities," said Hidayat.
Zainal was surprised by criticism of the decree, saying it was not unconstitutional.
Community opposition and raids on residences and schools where religious services were held in the past year have highlighted the difficulty of establishing Christian houses of worship.
Indonesia was included among countries listed in the United States' 2005 State Department Report as breaching freedom of religion.