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Indonesia’s new criminal code to allow village heads to report cohabitating couples to police
One legislator justified the criminalization of cohabitation on the grounds that it damaged the whole community, saying: "In Islam, if there is are people who continue to commit adultery, the angels will not want to visit 40 houses around it to the front, right, left and behind, so they say."
Indonesians choked by forest fire haze pray for rain
Hundreds of people held a mass prayer for rain in a smoke-filled Indonesian city on Friday, desperately hoping that downpours will extinguish forest fires and wash away the toxic...
Aceh plans to punish those who endanger protected wildlife with up to 100 strokes of the cane
Aceh, the only province in Indonesia with special autonomy to enact sharia law, is often criticized by human rights activists for publicly caning those found guilty of...
MUI pans college student’s viral dissertation arguing that premarital sex should be permissible in Islam
In any religion, certain texts and rules are open to various interpretations. But most Muslims around the world would accept the idea that sex outside of marriage is a sinful act,...
Photos of Christian funeral held in mosque grounds in Central Jakarta go viral
In recent years, we have seen a depressing number of stories from Indonesia related to religious minorities being robbed of a place to perform their religious duties. But one...
Viral video shows police in Riau shutting down church service as congregation begs them not to
“Help us, we are just trying to pray and worship our God. We are Indonesian citizens, where are our rights?” one woman can be heard asking one of the Satpol PP officers.
Communion of Churches in Indonesia calls on gov’t to repeal blasphemy laws in light of Abdul Somad controversy
"As Gus Dur repeatedly said, God does not need to be defended. Christ also does not need to be defended. The faith of Christians will not fade away just because of the statements...
Celebrity Islamic preacher Abdul Somad reported to police for saying crosses contain ‘infidel genies’
In a viral video clip, the popular preacher can be heard advising Muslims to cover up crosses in hospitals because if their family member are dying there they could be called over...
Indonesian Ulema Council attempts to take back halal certification authority with lawsuit in Constitutional Court
The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), the country’s highest clerical body that also long held sole authority in providing halal certifications in Indonesia, is taking legal action...
Rejecting those calling for Indonesia to enact sharia law, Moeldoko says: ‘Our country is not an Islamic state’
Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko rejected calls by hardliner groups to establish an Islamic caliphate government in Indonesia. Such calls may soon lead to the official end of...
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Coconuts Jakarta Religion
Like Indonesia as a whole, Jakarta is made up of predominantly Muslim citizens, but there are also large percentages of the followers of the other five religions officially recognized by the Indonesian constitution. There are, of course, instances of tension among religious groups in Jakarta, which are often sparked by politics. But Jakarta’s citizens, regardless of their religion, have lived in peaceful coexistence and understanding of one other throughout the vast majority of the capital's history, a testimony to the inherent tolerance and moderation of its people.