Interfaith Marriages In Churches That Become Viral Surely Will Not Be Recorded At KUA

Deputy Minister of Religion Zainut Tauhid Sa'adi

JAKARTA - Deputy Minister of Religion Zainut Tauhid Sa'adi confirmed that interfaith marriages that were viral on social media were not recorded at the Office of Religious Affairs (KUA).

"The incident, which is suspected of having an interfaith marriage and going viral on social media, was not recorded at the Office of Religious Affairs or KUA," said Zainut in a written statement received in Jakarta, Wednesday, March 9.

Zainut said that until now the prevailing regulation in Indonesia is Law No. 16 of 2019 concerning amendments to Law No. 1 of 1974 concerning Marriage.

Article 2 paragraph 1 explains that marriage is legal if it is carried out according to the laws of each religion and belief.

This article has been submitted for judicial review to the Constitutional Court in 2014 and a decision has been issued rejecting the judicial review.

"This means that the provisions of Article 2 paragraph 1 of the Marriage Law are still valid," he said.

The Deputy Minister of Religion invites the public to look into this marriage problem by returning it to the religious law that regulates marriage. Because, for him, marriage is a sacred event that cannot be separated from the religious context.

"Even in Islam, it is clear that marriage is worship, it cannot be separated from religion," he said.

Previously, a video compilation of social media photos circulated about interfaith marriages allegedly taking place in Semarang, Central Java.

In the video compilation, the photo shows the bride wearing a headscarf, while the men are wearing black suits. In the video, it is explained that the contract was carried out in a hotel, while the blessing was carried out at the church.