Your opinion on the mayor of Depok recently revoked the building permit for the planned Huria Kristen Batak Protestan (HKBP) church in Depok.
Let me start with The Setara Institute's 2008 Report on the Condition of Religious and Faith Freedom in Indonesia, which details the alarming rise of religious intolerance in Indonesia. The report found 265 cases of religiously motivated violence last year, up from 135 cases in 2007. The HKBP case will add to 2009's list if the mayor of Depok's decision is allowed. The 2008 report found the State was involved in 188 cases of violence both by "commission and omission".
I think it is an urgent and important for the so-called "community" of the area where the HKBP has permission to build the church to be both interdependent and connected. Our beliefs may differ but it should not stop us from engaging and respecting each other.
We look within ourselves and ask why a place of worship is fundamental; no one should try to stop the desire to worship. We need to try to understand the notion and the interest of the common good, which the state must pursue with the rule of law. This rule of law is not only for the state per se, but for people like me, nearby residents of Cinere, and for all citizens of Indonesia.
The mayor of Depok should be ashamed of his decision to annul the permit as it shows the quality of his leadership, which is far from upholding the interests of the common good but instead supports the interests of certain group. I hope the independent court provide a forum to dismantle this mistake and that we can all benefit from the lesson learnt from this saga.
Maria Pakpahan
Edinburgh
Would local Christians object if a Muslim place of prayer was built near their homes?
Daniel
Jakarta
Out of curiosity, how often do authorities revoke the building permits for mosques?
Joe Stillwell
Under Article 29, the Constitution of Indonesia guarantees "all persons the freedom to worship, each according to his/her own religion and belief". Despite this constitutional guarantee, religious minorities in Indonesia continue to suffer multiple forms of discrimination. The government, for its part, has failed to protect their constitutional rights.
As the freedom of religious belief and expression is a fundamental human right that is linked to many other rights, violations of this right are interlinked with those of other rights, all of which in turn relate to the failure of the rule of law in Indonesia.
In addition, the government of Indonesia has the obligation under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to respect the freedom of belief, worship and the right to redress of victims in case of violations, as envisaged under by Article 2 of the Convention.
Avi
Jakarta
The mayor has made a very correct decision. The only religion recognized by Allah is Islam.
Bonna
Jakarta
The decision in Depok against the church is understandable when we know that Depok is controlled by the wahhabi PKS. It's the same in Bekasi and Banten. Why do people still wonder? This is only the beginning.
Edo
Jakarta
Ignorant people. What are they so afraid of? They don't even understand their own religion and want to keep others from practicing theirs. I never heard of the Prophet ever stopping other religions from building their churches or oppressing them. To Indonesian Muslims, first learn how to understand your own religion, then practice what you preach before you start telling others what they can and cannot do. You are hypocrites of your own religion.
Frank M.
Jakarta
If the planned HKBP church in Depok has fulfilled all the rules and regulations then the mayor of Depok has to issue a building permit.
E Nurdin
Jakarta
I think everyone is entitled to live their life how they want.
Tri.
Sampit, Kalimantan
When a Christian is involved, they immediately revoke the permit. It's obviously a SARA case. Disgusting.
Jeffrey
Jakarta
