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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

The Jakarta Post
Jakarta
Thu, July 2, 2015

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Difficult for Indonesia to legalize gay marriage: Minister

R

eligious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin said on Thursday that gay marriage was unacceptable in Indonesia because of religious norms.

'€œI 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.

'€œThat 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.

'€œSo, 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)(+++)

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