Jakarta – A Christian political leader has criticised a religious edict or fatwa issued by Indonesia's top Islamic body stating that only a Muslim could become president of the country.
Sonny Wuisan, leader of the Christian Democratic Party (PKD) told Adnkronos International (AKI) that the edict from the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) was unconstitutional and should be withdrawn.
"This fatwa is against the constitution and the MUI should limit itself to discussing religion," Sonny Wuisan, secretary of the PKD told AKI.
The PKD is a very small Indonesian political party that in particular attracts Indonesians who are ethnic Chinese.
The Indonesian Ulema Council issued several fatwas or edicts including a ban on practising yoga, smoking and voting abstention during its conference in the West Sumatran town of Padangpanjang at the weekend. The council said that Muslims should vote at forthcoming presidential elections in July if the candidates have certain characteristics such as "being Muslim".
On the other hand some 700 clerics from the council agreed on Sunday that Muslims were forbidden to abstain from voting in elections if "qualified" candidates existed.
"Islam obliges Muslims to elect their leaders if the latter meet certain criteria," Gusrizal Gazahar, MUI West Sumatra head, said after the meeting.
Wuisan stressed that all religions had a right to participate in the political process. "This country has a Muslim majority, but it doesn't mean that other religions do not count," said Wuisan.
Although the country has the largest number of Muslims in the world, Indonesia has substantial Christian, Buddhist and Hindu minorities. The country's constitution recognises five religions and allows all its citizens to run for public office.
At the same time of the six presidents that have been elected since independence, all were Muslims and all the candidates running in the forthcoming elections are Muslim.
The fatwas have no legal power but devout Muslims adhere to the rulings because ignoring a fatwa is considered a sin.
Indonesia has a population of 235 million people and 90 percent of them are Muslim. Most practise a moderate form of the faith.