Religious Ministry Promotes Multireligious Houses of Worship on Campuses

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas in a webinar on Monday is urging campus managements to establish multifaith houses of worship within campus premises. He mentioned this in his acceptance speech in the virtual event held by University of Indonesia Alumni on March 5. 

The ministry’s acting-spokesperson, Thobib Al Asyhar, in the same event reminded people to not interpret it as a house of worship for all religions but rather one that accommodates multiple religions on campus with its own house of worship. 

“Multireligious houses of worship does not refer to a single facility accommodating every religion, but an attempt to push campuses to building public religious facilities for every religion,” said Thobib in a written statement on March 14. 

Thobib said the University of Indonesia Alumni in a webinar held on October of 2021 gathered groups of people representing Islam, Catholics, Christians, Hindu, and Buddha and talked about such plans, which was supported by Minister Yaqut.

The Sumatra Institute of Technology (ITERA) currently has six dedicated rooms to accommodate the activities of people from six religions. 

The webinar on Monday was attended by UI Alumni chairperson Andre Rahadian, Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Minister Nadiem Makarim, and a number of rectors and employees, including from University of Indonesia and Pancasila University. 

Read: Religious Denominations in Indonesia Granted Equal Protection: Mafhud MD

TEMPO.CO