Beware of liberal thoughts: Minister

Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali warned Wednesday of “liberal thinking”, including those demanding that the Marriage Law be changed for the sake of same-sex marriage,  infecting the nation's thoughts.

Suryadharma said that a battle between liberal and orderly thoughts was currently occuring in the nation.

He added that groups that upheld those thoughts demanded “ultimate freedom”, which is opposed by the proponents of orderliness.

“Ultimate freedom belongs to Allah only,” he said.
Suryadharma cited the demand for the marriage law to be altered to accommodate the need for same-sex marriages.

“That kind of thought is unacceptable because it is not in line with the value system that applies in Indonesia,” he said.

He cited the alteration of the content of a religion's holy book as an act that could “be categorized as blasphemy” and might harm the respective religious group.

Suryadharma warned Indonesian students who studied philosophy in other countries not to forget the “country's identity,” and that they should stay away from liberal Islam.