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‘Why is the government so obsessed?’ Law on Quran study groups sparks public outcry

Every Quran study group must submit an application to religious affairs regional offices to obtain organization registration permits (SKT) valid for five years.

News Desk (The Jakarta Post)
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Jakarta
Fri, December 6, 2019

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‘Why is the government so obsessed?’ Law on Quran study groups sparks public outcry Practice makes perfect: Congregations take part in a 'tadarus' (Quran recital) at the Al Ikhwan Mosque in Medan, North Sumatra, on May 20. (The Jakarta Post/Apriadi Gunawan)

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ariyadi, 62, has been the head of the At-Taqwa Mosque welfare council in Bekasi, West Java, for the past 30 years. He said the recent regulation on Quran study groups was the only law he had ever been confused about.

As with other mosques across the country, Sariyadi’s is located in a housing complex. It hosts a daily majelis taklim (Quran study group) where mosque-goers gather before the maghrib (post-sunset) prayer to recite the Quran and listen to sermons by local preachers.

He said he frowned when he first heard the new regulation issued by the Religious Affairs Ministry requiring the registration of every majelis taklim, whether it was organized by an institution or social group.

“What is it for? Why is the government so obsessed with controlling Quran study activity? The mosque is already registered with the subdistrict office. Also, there is nothing strange about our Quran study here,” he said on Wednesday.

Hasan Pamungkas, 27, a member of Goro Assalam Mosque’s Quran study group in Surakarta, Central Java, also questioned the regulation. He said he could not understand why the government required a copy of each member’s identity card as part of the registration.

“I go to the mosque every Sunday to learn more about my religion, not to be burdened by more administrative work,” said the office worker.

The regulation, signed by Religious Affairs Minister Fachrul Razi on Nov. 13, has sparked criticism. It is considered by some an excessive government intervention into religious activity.

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