Jakarta. Vox Point Indonesia supports Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas’s proposal to eliminate the Forum for Religious Harmony (FKUB) recommendation requirement for building places of worship, arguing that it will streamline the process and enhance religious freedoms.

The Catholic organization sees the minister’s plan as a crucial move to simplify the often bureaucratic and lengthy process of constructing places of worship.

“This is a long-awaited development. Many cases have seen the establishment of places of worship obstructed for various reasons, including recommendations from multiple parties. This plan is vital for making the process more straightforward and expedient,” said Yohanes Handojo Budhisedjati, Chairman of Vox Point Indonesia, to reporters in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Handojo views the proposal as a significant gesture of respect toward religious communities, aligning with the 1945 Constitution which guarantees the right to practice and worship freely.

“The state guarantees everyone’s freedom to practice their religion and worship according to their beliefs. Therefore, the government’s involvement through the Ministry of Religious Affairs in this initiative is very appropriate and should be supported by all Indonesian citizens,” Handojo explained.

He also praised the minister’s proposal as a groundbreaking move that could foster a more harmonious and peaceful society, reflecting the principles of religious moderation.

“This is an extraordinary breakthrough. This idea represents a realization of religious moderation for the Indonesian nation,” Handojo concluded.

Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas has proposed removing the FKUB recommendation requirement for establishing places of worship, replacing it with a recommendation solely from the Ministry of Religious Affairs. This change is expected to be formalized through a presidential decree.

Building places of worship for minorities in Indonesia can be challenging due to resistance from local communities or leaders, particularly in areas where the majority religion is dominant. For instance, the Yasmin Church Congregation in Bogor, West Java, faced a 15-year struggle, from 2007 to 2022, to build their church due to opposition from hardline Muslim groups in the town.

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