Author: Devi Asmarani
Publication: The Straits Times
Date: November 2, 2003
URL: http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/asia/story/0,4386,217704,00.html
Introduction: Muslim hardliners
draft Religious Tolerance Bill to stymie spread of Christianity, but some
Islamic groups say the move would be divisive
Muslim hardliners, fearing the spread
of Christianity, are pushing for a Bill to place curbs on religious activities
in Indonesia.
Among other things, it will restrict
the building of new churches and subject foreign aid for religious groups
to government scrutiny.
One article in the draft Bill states
that religious rituals will be restricted to members of the faith, in effect
putting the brakes on conversion efforts by Christian groups.
The proposed measure will also ban
a person from converting to another religion upon marriage.
Adoption of children across religious
divides will also be forbidden.
Although the proposed Bill on Religious
Tolerance is ostensibly for maintaining religious harmony, analysts here
see it as the latest bid by conservatives in the government to put an Islamic
stamp on Indonesia by legislative means.
A team in the Religious Ministry,
backed by several Islamic political parties, drafted the Bill.
It is expected to be tabled soon
for debate in Parliament.
It is backed by the conservative
Indonesian Council of Ulema (MUI), the nation's Islamic authority, and
hardline groups such as the Majelis Mujahidin Indonesia.
However, mainstream moderate Muslim
bodies such as the Nahdlatul Ulama and the Muhammadiyah reject the move
as retrogressive and a source of potential religious tension.
They and religious minorities argue
that religious tolerance is not something that can be legislated.
Muslim scholar Ahmad Baso of Desantara,
an independent think-tank, told The Straits Times: 'This Bill only creates
more division between religious worshippers.'
'Not only will it affect the non-Muslims,
it will also cause tension among the Muslims as it will lead to attempts
to forge a uniformity of religious interpretation.
'MUI will have too much power.'
Others pointed to the dangers of
government intervention in matters of faith.
The chairman of the Council of Churches
in Indonesia, Mr Nathan Setiabudi, told The Straits Times: 'I fear that
the law would be used to justify moves by certain groups to repress others
who are not in line with their beliefs.'
Many like him fear some Muslim-based
parties are pushing their religious agenda into public policies.
