Gibran stresses religious freedom, tolerance at pastors’ congress

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3 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting freedom of religion and promoting tolerance in Indonesia’s diverse society while opening the fifth National Congress of the Association of Indonesian Pastors on Thursday.

“The government takes this matter very seriously. The state must guarantee that every citizen is free to follow and practice any religion, as mandated by the 1945 Constitution,” he said in Tangerang, Banten.

Gibran stressed that tolerance is particularly important in Indonesia, given its cultural and religious diversity.

“It is crucial that we make every effort to maintain unity and peace while upholding the values of tolerance. I sincerely apologize if you still encounter cases of intolerance in your regions,” he told congress participants.

In this regard, the vice president pointed to the peaceful resolution of a recent incident at a church in Tangerang, where a Christian congregation was reportedly forced to disperse by a group of people during a prayer gathering.

He said he had coordinated with church representatives and other relevant parties to address the issue, noting that the government had decided to help relocate the house of worship to a more suitable location so that congregants could worship more comfortably.

Furthermore, Gibran stressed the importance of drawing lessons from the incident, calling on regional authorities to be more responsive and sensitive to developments or dynamics within their communities.

“Signs of intolerance in communities must be addressed swiftly. Find a solution immediately,” he said, emphasizing preventive measures.

He affirmed that safeguarding harmony and unity is a shared responsibility of both the government and the public.

“Let us safeguard Indonesia together. We must strengthen and support one another and not allow differences to divide us. Do not be easily provoked or misled by false information,” he said.