PPIM Research: Local Regulation about Religion Harming Minorities

FISIP UIN Jakarta, UIN News—Local regulation (perda) in religious nuanced is tend to harm minorities and more beneficial to majorities. Critics of the society and willingness of government to re-observe the local regulation are needed in creating democratic governance.

That is the conclusion of the research “Regulation and Local Regulation in Religion Nuanced” of Center for Islamic Studies and Society (PPIM) that was presented in FISIP building, Wednesday (21/10). Researcher of PPIM, Dr. Ali Munhanif said, the research that has been done since November 2014 to early October 2015 found the powerful discriminative tendencies on local regulations religious nuanced.

“It’s just the closest group to the policy maker who’s get the benefit of that local regulation,” he revealed.

Research found several examples of that kind of local regulation. For instance, Regulation of Governor of DKI Jakarta No. 83 Year 2012 about Procedure of Approval for Building House of Worship. This regulation makes minority religious group find difficulty to get approval to build their hose of worship.

Research also noted tendency of that local regulation is more reflecting the religious spirit of several elites who are institutionalized in that regulation. For instance, in Local Regulation No. 13 Year 2010 about the Death Compensation in Pandeglang, Banten.

Furthermore, local regulation in religious nuanced also reflecting the power of economic politic behind the creation such as Local Regulation No. 30 Year 2009 about Obligation to Study Islamic Education in Sukabumi. “Most of elites and religious organizations who have religious educational institution are suspected to be the main supporter of the presence of this regulation,” he said.

Meanwhile, research also noted that kind of regulation was born from various factors like social condition of the urban society which always changing. This was seen from establishment of Local Regulation of Bandung City No.11 Year 2010 about Prohibition, Observation, and Control of Alcohol.

“Various waves because of urbanization are responded by local government through local regulation with hope to minimize negative effects of urbanization,” he said.

Other factor is the religious formalization of diverse interest groups. Religious spirit of several elites is the main actors behind the establishment of regulation, like the Local Regulation No. 13 Year 2010 about Death Compensation in Pandeglang, Banten.

Executive Director of PPIM, SaifulUmamPh.D said, research is done in the region which is suitable to represent the dynamic of local regulation in religious nuanced. Based on this consideration, research finally decided to choose eight cities in three provinces, there are Serang, Pandeglang, And Tangerang in Banten, Centre Jakarta and East Jakarta in DKI Jakarta, and Bandung, Sukabumi, and Tasikmalaya in West Java.

“Diversity of socio-culture, plurality of the problem and production of local regulation, and an amount of the people as the basic categories to choose these regions,” he said. (LRF/ZM/IPM)