TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Difficult for Indonesia to legalize gay marriage: Minister
Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin said on Thursday that gay marriage was unacceptable in Indonesia because of religious norms
Change text size
Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
R
eligious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin said on Thursday that gay marriage was unacceptable in Indonesia because of religious norms.
'I think it [gay marriage] is difficult to introduce in a country like Indonesia. Indonesian citizens are very religious. So the state and society do not see same-sex unions as a legal matter only,' Lukman said as quoted by Antara news agency.
Lukman said Indonesian society considered marriage sacred and a religious ritual.
'That is why the country cannot accept or legalize same-sex unions,' he said.
Echoing Lukman, lawmaker Saleh Partaonan Daulay said that marriages in the country with world's biggest Muslim population took place not only in the domain of state but also religion.
'So, the state should not legalize marriages that contravene religious principles,' he said.
Previously, Saleh said the recent recognition of gay marriage by the US Supreme Court would not have a big impact on Indonesia, citing culture and religious differences between the two countries. (ika)(+++)
