Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court
TRIBUNNEWS.COM, JAKARTA - Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Mahfud MD said that the government should protect the right of every citizen to perform their worship according to their belief. Mahfud made this statement after another riot in Ciampea, Bogor Regency, West Java with Ahmadiyah teachings as its background.
"To live peacefully, to be free from any threat of terror, to worship properly according to one’s belief, are state obligations that must be carried out by the government,” said Mahfud when being visited at the Constitutional Court building, Jakarta, Monday (4/10/2010).
According to Mahfud, he entirely left the issue related to stipulation of the Joint Decree as Law, as recently discussed with the government, to the government.
"That would be the government’s consideration, who knows the condition in the field, it is up to them," he explained.
Principally, Mahfud continued, the state in fact needs to regulate the belief of a religious teaching. He suggested that as the Joint Decree will be stipulated as Law, it must have open, democratic and indiscriminative content and rules.
“The state is allowed to regulate, it is highly recommended, our Constitution allows it, the UN convention No.35/51 allows it, it is up to the government if it constitutes a matter of great urgency,” he said.
Editor: kisdiantoro
Tribunnews.com
Monday, October 11, 2010 | 07:19 WIB 321