Your opinion on the mayor of Depok recently revoked the building permit for the planned Huria Kristen Batak Protestan (HKBP) church in Depok.

We choose to be blind. Religion has always been used as excuse to do things. Wars are not fought because "my religion is better than yours", but when I want to go to war with you, my religion will give me the strength to defeat you. If you can accept this rational, what could be the real issue hidden behind this particular situation?

Julian

Jakarta

The government revoked the permit because it did not confirm with a 2007 ministerial decree, which stipulates that a new house of worship must have the support of at least 90 people, the consent of the local administration and at least 60 residents of different faiths.

The Jakarta Post article states that there was manipulation in getting the permit and that the residents therefore protested the construction. If the HKBP congregation can fulfill the requirements, I assume it will be settled peacefully.

Please, please do not put the religious sentiment in your judgment. I live in Germany and I face discrimination everyday as a Muslim here. I guess it has never been easy being green anywhere unless I, you, we, change it.

Devie

Bonn

I am an American Muslim who spent some years in Indonesia. I feel bad for the Christians in Depok and I think that, in theory, they should be able to build their church. However, this sort of thing does not happen because Muslims are inherently intolerant people, though many enemies of our religion would like to take the opportunity to portray us that way.

In fact, the rejection of new churches around the Muslim world is mostly a reaction to the aggressive practice of foreign Christian missionaries known as "church planting." This is a strategy whereby new churches are not built so much to serve current Christian residents (though that's what they tell the government and neighbors), but to actively convert Muslims to Christiaity.

Missionaries have written entire books on, for example, how to sneakily convert Muslim women via church-planting and other deceptive strategies. Please, don't fall for the anti-Islam propaganda - look at it from an international perspective, because that's how the aggressive missionaries see it.

Abu Rayyan

Washington

I was wondering why people hate churches so much? They do not even make any noise when they are worshiping. Revoking Church permits is totally breaking the law. It also makes it clear that a political party which is based on religion is not the answer for Indonesian people as they will only pursue their own goals, instead of those of the whole nations.

Dika

Jakarta

Why is it okay for Muslims to pray to God, but not Christians, Jews or Ahmadiyah Muslims?

They pray to the same God.

Bill Pisano

Naples, Italy

Non-Muslims are second-class citizens in Indonesia although we have the Pancasila state ideology. Unfortunately, the Indonesian government and its officials are hypocrites and cannot stand-up against the fanatics.

Gulzar

Jakarta

I don't think it is as simple as that. You are free to worship, but obviously there needs to be some regulation on where you can put up buildings. Putting an Angkot terminal in the middle of a residence area for example, would be undesirable. Religious buildings are no different.

However, people should come with a sound argument as to why they object to a certain kind of building. For example, people may find crowds coming in and out their neighborhood all the time to be intrusive. That would be a good reason. I would object too, regardless what kind of building it was.

But to object to a church just because it is something Christian, that is childish, and is definitely in violation with the spirit of our Constitution.

Prim D

Jakarta

Under Article 29, the Constitution guarantees "all persons the freedom of worship, each according to his/her own religion and belief." Despite this constitutional guarantee, religious minorities in Indonesia continue to suffer multiple forms of discrimination.

The government, for its part, has failed to protect their constitutional rights. As the freedom of religious belief and expression is a fundamental human right that is linked to many other rights, violations of this right is interlinked with those of other rights, all of which in turn relate to the failure of the rule of law in Indonesia.

In addition, the government has obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to respect the freedom of belief, worship and the right to redress victims in case of violations, as envisaged under by Article 2 of the Convention.

Avi

Jakarta

Just be fair guys! How many times, and in how many locations, have Muslims not been allowed to build their Mosques in Christian majority areas?

If The Jakarta Post wants people to give their ideas about this kind of an issue, it should fairly present the same scenario that is happening equally in Christian majority areas against Muslims who want to build mosques.

Your presentation of the issue is one sided, regardless of the case being rightly or wrongly handled by the mayor of Depok.

Mohammad

Jakarta

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