TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Nahdlatul Ulama Central Board (PBNU) chairperson Yahya Cholil Staquf, or Gus Yahya, stated that the proposed Religious Freedom Law would serve as the state’s effort to address interfaith conflicts at the grassroots level. He said the law, proposed by Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai, is not about granting privileges but about resolving societal disputes.

“This is not about facilities but about addressing issues that arise in intercommunity interactions,” he said in a written statement on Thursday, March 13.

He emphasized that every individual inherently has the freedom to choose their beliefs, including religion. The state’s recognition of six official religions is already reflected in the national budget (APBN) and other government policies.

“By nature, this cannot be prohibited. How could it be banned?” Gus Yahya remarked.

PBNU Chairperson Alissa Qotrunnada Munawaroh Wahid supported the proposal, calling it a highly positive initiative as it would guarantee protection for all citizens. She cited local religions such as Kaharingan and Sunda Wiwitan, whose adherents, she said, still face difficulties in obtaining legal recognition.

“With this regulation in place, protection will be clearer and more effective,” she said.

Freedom, Not Protection

Previously, Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai proposed the establishment of a Religious Freedom Law to guarantee the right to religious belief and practice.

“We want to ensure that going forward, there must be a Religious Freedom Law,” Pigai stated during a press conference at the Ministry of Human Rights on Tuesday, March 11.

He explained that he deliberately chose the term religious freedom rather than protection of religious communities to avoid implying that religious freedom is under constant attack.

“The term ‘protection of religious communities’ suggests that restrictions on religious freedom have occurred and continue to exist. The state must not acknowledge or justify any injustice in religious matters,” he said.

However, Pigai noted that the naming of the regulation remains flexible and open for discussion.

A Cue from London

Pigai’s push for the law was motivated by a study from The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), a London-based research and analysis institution. Their latest report indicated that civil liberties, including religious freedom in Indonesia, remain severely lacking.

He pointed out that discrimination against religious minorities—particularly those whose faiths are not officially recognized by the state—continues to occur frequently. He argued that this ongoing issue is one of the key reasons behind Indonesia’s declining democracy index.

Vedro Imanuel Girsang contributed to the writing of this article.