JAKARTA - Member of Commission III of the DPR RI, Abdullah asked the Indonesian Police to investigate the mastermind behind destroying houses of prayer and disbanding the worship of the Christian Church of Setia Indonesia (GKSI) in Padang, West Sumatra. He encouraged the perpetrators to be given strict sanctions to provide a deterrent effect so that similar incidents do not happen again in the future.
Abdullah emphasized that this act of destroying houses of prayer is an act that not only violates criminal law but also damages the joints of the constitution and human rights (HAM) guaranteed in a democratic state of law.
"This is not just a matter of vandalism or a violation of public order. This is a tangible form of belief-based persecution, and is an attack on diversity and basic principles of the state," Abdullah said, Thursday, July 31.
"For this reason, the West Sumatra Police must investigate intellectual actors, inciters, or parties who systematically encourage identity-based violence. This is important to ensure that law enforcement is carried out in its entirety and does not stop at technical actors alone," continued the legislator from the Central Java VI electoral district.
In a state of law (rechtsstaat), Abdullah continued, the act of destroying houses of worship is a serious crime against freedom of religion and belief.
"This is as guaranteed by Article 28E and Article 29 of the 1945 Constitution, as well as other relevant laws and regulations, such as Law Number 39 of 1999 concerning Human Rights and Article 156a of the Criminal Code concerning blasphemy," he said.
Abdullah also asked the government to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the pattern of handling cases of intolerance by law enforcement officers, including the police and the prosecutor's office. Because so far, according to him, the settlement of cases of intolerance often leads to administrative compromise or unilateral mediation that does not benefit victims and actually strengthens impunity for perpetrators.
There should be no omission or compromise resolution against hate crimes. The state cannot comply with the majority group pressure when the constitution is firm in protecting all citizens equally," Abdullah stressed.
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The member of the commission in charge of law enforcement and partnering with the National Police also emphasized the importance of transparency in the legal process. Including, Abdullah said, openness to the public regarding the results of investigations, motives of the perpetrators, and further legal steps.
"Transparent law enforcement is part of social reconciliation and is important to restore public trust in law enforcement officials on issues of intolerance and freedom of religion," he concluded.
As is known, dozens of residents raided and damaged a house that was used as a prayer house for Christian Congregations in RT 03/09 Padang Sarai Village, Koto Tangah Padang District, Padang City, West Sumatra on Sunday, July 27, evening.
In a video that went viral on social media, a number of people broke up the worship of the GKSI congregation in Padang in the house while carrying wood and destroying chairs and glasses. The congregation was running, even some children from the House of Prayer also cried.
After the incident, the West Sumatra Police immediately went to the location and secured the crime scene. The police also confirmed that they would take action against the perpetrators even though there had been no report to the police.
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