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.
Popular Reads
Top Results
No results found. Please check your search term and try again
Can't find what you're looking for?
View all search results
Popular Reads
Top Results
No results found. Please check your search term and try again
Can't find what you're looking for?
View all search resultsThree mayors win awards in faith, religious freedom protection
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!
Unity in diversity: On-duty police officers pose with members of the public on Car Free Day in Jakarta recently, during which political parties organized the “Kita Indonesia” (We are Indonesia) event to promote tolerance. (Photo courtesy of @TMCPoldaMetro/Twitter)
T
he National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has presented Regional Government with Achievement in Religious and Faith Freedom Protection Awards to three mayors for their inspiring work in upholding the rights of religious minority groups in their cities.
Bandung Mayor Ridwan Kamil, Bekasi Mayor Rahmat Effendi and Manado Mayor Vicky Lumentut were awarded for their achievements on Thursday during the 2017 National Congress on Religious and Faith Freedom held in Jakarta.
Jayadi Damanik, the coordinator of the faith and religious freedom desk at Komnas HAM, who announced the winners, said the awards were given to the mayors because they had the courage to persistently stand up for minorities against intolerant groups.
"The mayors have pushed their subordinates to respect and protect the rights of their citizens to freedom of religion and faith. They promote tolerant and non-discriminatory policies that are in line with human rights principles," Jayadi said on Thursday.
This year's recipients were selected by the faith and religious freedom desk at Komnas HAM following a year of monitoring and analysis.
Rahmat was awarded for his courage to stand up to intolerant Muslim groups who repeatedly staged rallies and urged him to revoke the building permit (IMB) of St. Clara church, which was to be the first Catholic church in North Bekasi. He has been named a patron of religious tolerance alongside Bekasi Deputy Mayor Ahmad Syaikhu by four church organizations in Bekasi for their commitment and consistency in campaigning for pluralism and peace in the city.
Ridwan, meanwhile, earned praise from the rights commission for his commitment to making the West Java capital a rights-friendly city. (ebf)
