Jakarta – A representative of the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) agreed that the current Marriage Law has violated the rights of Indonesian citizens to participate in interfaith marriages.

Nikson Gans, a legal division representative from the PGI, who testified as a related party at the Constitutional Court on Wednesday, said that the law, particularly Article 2 paragraph 1, produced a policy that discriminated against citizens who wanted to engage in an interfaith marriage.

"Narrow interpretation on the Article 2 paragraph 1 of the Marriage Law has produced a discriminative policy," he said, as quoted by Antara news agency.

Article 2 paragraph 1 defines a marriage as being legitimate as long as it is conducted in line with the rituals of the religion to which both the bride and groom adhere.

The PGI also considered the law to be very discriminative against women and, therefore, the law should be replaced by a new law that was more democratic.

"In the future, a more realistic regulation about the reality of Indonesian diversity that regulates and facilitates marriage of couples who are in different religions should be made," he added.

On Sept. 5, four graduates and a student of the University of Indonesia's School of Law filed a judicial review with the Constitutional Court against the article.

They said that the article violated Article 28E of the 1945 Constitution, which stipulates that everyone has the liberty to worship and practice their religion of choice. (ask/nfo)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/11/05/church-communion-supports-interfaith-marriage.html