Text your say: Mahfud’s controversial statement

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Your comments on the controversial statement made by Constitutional Court chief Mahfud MD, that the Constitution gives people the freedom to be atheists or communists:

Why does it have to take Mahfud MD to say “Atheists, Commies welcome?” (The Jakarta Post, July 12).

The question now is “how about Ahmadiyah and other minorities?” It might have to take Mahfud MD, too, to solve these problems.

Moeljono Adikoesoemo
Jakarta

I agree with Mahfud MD when he says that the Constitution gives people the freedom to be atheists or communists.

I was in the Soviet Union in 1964-1967, where the government gave people the freedom to be religious but they weren’t allowed to practice their religion.

This is just some input for the Constitutional Court and not just for myself.

E Nurdin
Jakarta

You can tell Merkel that, but I doubt that she believes it. I, for one, do not.

Just look at what happened to Aan in Padang, Tajul in Madura and the Ahmadis.

Hadi
Surabaya

All but one of nine judges at the court should be replaced with judges who understand common sense, ethics and, of course, the universal law on human rights.

At the very least, the law on blasphemy is against the law and cannot be recognized by any court.

Brien

One of the most serious charges laid against atheism is that it is responsible for some of the worst horrors of the 20th century, including the Nazi concentration camps and Stalin’s gulags.

The regimes of fascism and communism could only commit such atrocities because they were godless. How should atheists respond to this charge?

Ahmed

I am from America, and when I see the struggles that atheists in your country are made to endure, my heart aches for them.

America still has a long way to go as far as equality for atheists is concerned.

But when I read that you lock people up for not believing what the majority believes, it shows that your nation is still in the “Dark Ages” regarding human rights. If I were not an atheist, I would pray for you!

John K

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