FPI Memory Equates Interfaith Marriages With Kebo Gatherings

Illustration of a different marriage of a gama. (Facebook)

JAKARTA - Love is one of the highest forms of humanity. However, that does not mean that marriage of different religions is then legal in Indonesia. This condition provoked the reaction of a handful of people to legalize marriage of different religions. The judicial review to the Constitutional Court (MK) was tried in 2014.

Instead of getting support, those who apply for legalization of marriages of different religions get criticism and criticism. Rejections arise from many religious organizations. The Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) is one of them. FPI considers that marriage of different religions is like a kebo gathering.

Marriage matters of different religions are often a polemic in Indonesia. The state has never approved a marriage with different beliefs. The reason for marriage of different religions can lead to major social turmoil, from family groups to religious communities being one of the cornerstones.

Peace between religious communities can be disturbed. However, the narrative did not make students and alumni of the Faculty of Law, University of Indonesia (UI) afraid. They tried to submit a judicial review related to Article 2 paragraph (1) of Law No.1 of 1974 concerning Marriage in 2014.

The contents of the article emphasize that marriage is legal, if it is carried out according to the law of each religion and its belief. The petitioner believes that the presence of the article makes marriage outside of religious law invalid. The article is considered not in accordance with the 1945 Constitution.

As a result, there have been many legal smugglings. Couples of different religions try various ways to make their marriage legal. Some go abroad or change their religion for a moment. The applicant asked the Constitutional Court in its petitum to delete Article 2 paragraph (1) U No.1 of 1974.

Later, the petitum was changed to only give a new interpretation so that marriages of different religions can be allowed. This means that the state stops forcing every citizen to obey their respective religious laws and beliefs in the field of marriage.

It is believed that the state must free citizens to carry out marriage according to conscience free to follow or not religious teachings. Pros and cons also emerged. Those who support think that the government must legalize marriage of different religions for the sake of love.

There are certainly many who reject it. Religious faith matters are above all else so that marriage of different religions is considered contradictory.

"There are several reasons that support our decision, the first is the author mentioned in the Qur'an and the present one is much different. The second is that marriage of different religions is impossible to produce a sakinah family as the main reason for marriage, and the last one is to maintain faith. We do not recommend marriage of different religions at all," said Chairman of the Law Council of Muhammadiyah Central Leaders, Syaiful Bakri as quoted on the page mkri.id, 22 October 2014.

The application for legalization of marriages of different religions has become a polemic. The refusal is not only Muhammadiyah. FPI also rejected it. The Islamic mass organization, which has a strong style to uphold Islamic values, considers the applicant for the judicial review to have arbitrary views.

The narrative was revealed because the applicant's efforts to legalize different religions' marriages hit many things. They will not only cause disharmony between religious communities. However, many social norms were violated and did not comply with the value of the 1945 Constitution.

The Islamic mass organization, which was commanded by Rizieq Shihab, did not want marriage to be considered only a civil matter. Marriage is sacred. A worship that shows religious glory. As a result, if the applicant does not follow religious rules, surely the marriage is no different from a mere Kebo gathering.

The two pairs of different religions only carry out one roof life without any sacred ties. This means that they are only seen as committing adultery. Not to mention that marriages of different religions are considered to interfere with Indonesian identities that take the traditional values of ethnicity -- a custom that upholds sacred marriages.

FPI's view is supported by many parties. At its peak, the Constitutional Court itself then rejected the material test of the legalization of marriages of different religions. The applicant is considered not to understand the essence of the marriage itself which forms a happy family based on the One Godhead.

"Marriage is legal if religion is carried out, it guarantees the 1945 Constitution. The state guarantees their respective independence. Thus Article 2 paragraph 1 of Law Number 1 of 1974 is actually the implementation of Article 28 of the 1945 Constitution to guarantee constitusional rights. This (law from the applicant) is not a marriage but a family gathering agreement," said FPI attorney Mirza Zulkarnaen in a trial at the Constitutional Court building as quoted on the detik.com page, 14 November 2014.