CNN Indonesia
Tuesday, 21 Feb 2023 06:56 WIB
Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —
Minister of Religion (Minister of Religion) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas emphasized that there was no need for an action to disband the congregation of the Christian Church of Kemah Daud in Lampung which went viral recently.
He regretted the emergence of polemics on religious worship activities that led to the incident of stopping worship.
“All parties are responsible for creating harmony. If there are problems, they should be resolved by deliberation by involving the parties responsible for maintaining harmony. There is no need for dissolution or banning,” Yaqut said in his statement, Tuesday (21/2).
Yaqut believes that issues like this should be resolved by deliberation. What’s more, he continued, there are regulations that regulate and can be used as a common guideline.
“Polomics on permits for houses of worship must be reported to the Regional Government, FKUB, Police and the local Ministry of Religion so that steps can be taken to resolve them according to law and statutory regulations,” he continued.
Yaqut has asked the Lampung Regional Office of the Ministry of Religion to go directly to the field and help solve this problem.
Regarding worship activities, he continued, these have been regulated in the Joint Regulations of the Minister of Religion (PBM) of Religion and the Minister of Home Affairs Number: 9 of 2006 and Number: 8 of 2006 concerning Guidelines for the Implementation of the Duties of Regional Heads/Deputy Regional Heads in Maintaining Religious Harmony, Empowering Harmony Forums Religious Community, and Establishment of Houses of Worship.
Article 18 PBM stipulates that the utilization of a non-worship building as a temporary house of worship must obtain a certificate granting a temporary permit from the regent/mayor by fulfilling the requirements for proper functioning and maintenance of religious harmony and public order and tranquility.
“Processes that have been regulated like this should be obeyed by all parties. It is also hoped that the regional government can play a role according to their authority so that religious people in their regions can carry out their worship comfortably and safely,” said Yaqut.
Regional Government, continued Yaqut, has a big role in efforts to maintain inter-religious harmony and licensing houses of worship.
In fact, he said if there are religious people who cannot build a house of worship because the requirements have not been met, the Regional Government can facilitate this. He hopes that the disbanding of worship activities will not be repeated.
“I have asked the Regional Offices of the Provincial Ministry of Religion and the Regency/Municipal Offices of Ministry of Religion to be proactive in resolving disputes of this kind and continue to be at the forefront of maintaining harmony among people,” he said.
A viral video showing a number of masses banning Christians from holding services at the Kemah Daud Christian Church, Bandar Lampung is circulating on social media.
Bandar Lampung Police Chief Kombes Ino Harianto confirmed the incident. Ino claimed that the local community actually did not prohibit Christians from worshiping, but questioned the permit for this activity.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religion of Lampung Province, Puji Raharjo, stated that the problem related to the prohibition of Christians from holding services at churches in Lampung had been resolved peacefully.
(rzr/DAL)
