TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin lauded the Constitutional Court for its recent ruling that rejected a judicial review on an article in the marriage law on interfaith marriage.
"We are grateful. It is a decision that we must be thankful, as it reflects our Indonesian character. Our people are religious-minded," he stated on Monday.
Lukman remarked that marriage is a sacred institution and is not just a legal event.
He affirmed that the people in Indonesia are religious, and so, marriage is a sacred event and even a religious service.
"So, religion is something that cannot be separated from marriage, and therefore, it is impossible for an inter-religious marriage to take place," he stated.
Interfaith marriage is not recognized according to a religious regulation, he pointed out.
"Marriage will be officially recorded by the state if it is in accordance with the religion of the couple. This is what was confirmed by the Constitution Court recently," he affirmed.
The applicants have filed for a judicial review of the marriage law following rejection of inter-religious marriage by the Constitutional Court, which it considered as creating uncertainty for a couple who opt for inter-religious marriage.
ANTARA
