MUI Asks KY Until MA To Intervene To Examine Surabaya Court Judges Who Approve Interfaith Marriages

Wedding illustration (Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Law and Human Rights Commission of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) Deding Ishak asked the Judicial Commission (KY) to the Supreme Court (MA) to examine the Surabaya District Court (PN) judge who legalized the marriage of a married couple of different religions.

"The judge must be examined by KY. The Supreme Court must also step down if this is indeed coercion, including the government, the President too. The problem is this (problem) is serious," said Deding in his statement, Friday, June 24.

In fact, Deding asked the President and Vice President to pay attention to this issue.

“The President and Vice President should understand this, must pay attention to this. Even though there is a legal corridor, this must be a concern lest this is played. So, don't play with religion and law in Indonesia, this is not true," he said.

Deding emphasized that the Surabaya District Court's decision regarding the legalization of interfaith marriages contradicts and deviates substantially from Law Number 1 of 1974 concerning Marriage.

In the law, continued Deding, it is clear that the validity of a marriage must be in accordance with his religion and belief.

"Article 1 is clear, yes. It means, the implementation of marriage must be in accordance with the norms, religious law, in this case Islam. Sociologically, Islamic society is guided by the book of Allah, of course Islamic law is the guide," he said.

Previously, the Surabaya District Court granted an interfaith marriage application before the local population and civil registration (dispendukcapil) office.

Spokesman for the Surabaya District Court, Gede Agung, explained that the decision to grant the request for interfaith marriage was determined by a single judge, Imam Supriyadi.

The sole judge, Imam Supriyadi, who examined this case, referred to Article 21 paragraph (3) of Law Number 1 of 1974 concerning Marriage in conjunction with Article 35 of Law Number 23 of 2006 concerning Population Administration. Furthermore, on April 26, 2022, it was determined to grant the petitioners' request.