July 12, p. 1

Weeks after an openly-proclaimed atheist was sent to prison by a court in West Sumatra, a senior chief justice says that atheists and communists do have a place in the country.

Constitutional Court chief Mahfud MD told visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel that the IndonesianConstitution gave people the freedom to be atheists or communists as it guaranteed equality in freedom.

Mahfud was answering Merkel’s questions about freedom of religion and democracy in Indonesia during a visit to the Constitutional Court on Tuesday evening.

“Since its inception, the Constitutional Court has guaranteed the freedom of atheists and communists in this country, as long as they do not interfere with the freedom of people of other religions. Freedom is equality,” Mahfud said, as quoted by kompas.com.

The nation would be denying human rights and democracy if it denied atheists and communists their rights, Mahfud said.

He, however, said atheists and communists should also respect people who chose to have a religion.

Your comments:

This kind of action is what makes the rest of the planet see you as a Third World nation (which we know not to be true).

Shrug off old superstitions. It is OK to offend someone’s religion. I am offended by religions! Look at what they cause!

A man is imprisoned for something he said about himself and his own beliefs. He did not threaten or harm another person.

This is disgusting, and shows the world just how socially far behind you really are.

Richard Skouson

Anyone reading this article will probably comment that those statements covered are all “NATO” despite the seemingly “refreshing air” they breathe out into democratic life here in this country.

What has been happening so far is undeniable proof that atheists and communists are unwelcome here.

Tupah Agus Tuhpah

There is an extreme contradiction between the remark of Mahfud MD who is telling the visiting German chancellor that “the Indonesian Constitution gives people the freedom to be atheist or communists” and the first principle of Pancasila: “Belief in the one and only God.”

I do appreciate every idea except atheism. It is the most dangerous threat for humanity. Why is it dangerous to our society? By taking God’s laws out of it, we have chaos.

By reading world history, it is crystal clear that atheism was a driving force behind Lenin, Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot and all mass-murdering totalitarians.

Also, the following statement is true: “Atheism is a threat to the moral fabric of our society. Atheists have no standard by which to judge right and wrong.”

Faiz

Congratulations to Mahfud and to the Indonesian people for going public on this matter.

Pancasila is alive and well and as a Dutchman, this makes me very happy, not that that is so important. Once more: congratulations!

John Heerman van Voss

John Heerman van Voss, I am not sure if you know what Pancasila is. It’s content is kind of general but mentions something about God in one of its principles.

Ryan Sukrisna

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