The Aceh administration and the Aceh Provincial Legislative Council (DPRA) plan to issue a qanun (sharia-based bylaw) on places of worship and guidance for inter-religious harmony this year. The move is said to be an attempt to strengthen religious tolerance in Indonesia's western most province.

The Aceh government and DPRA are currently finalizing the draft qanun on places of worship, said M. Jafar, adviser to Aceh Governor Zaini Abdullah, on Saturday.

"We aim to complete it this year," he said as quoted by Antara news agency adding that the qanun draft was based on the 2006 Aceh Government Law.

The decision to create a bylaw on places of worship was made because the current regulations are only based on Gubernatorial Decree, Jafar said. The qanun would help settle any issues arising as a result of future establishment of places of worship in Aceh.

The qanun is expected to establish rules to arrange and maintain religious tolerance among the Acehnese peoples as well to address issues related to religious blasphemy.

The draft mentions the effort to uphold and strengthen inter-religions forums at all administrative levels, Jaffar added.

Last year, at least 7,000 people fled their homes in the Aceh Singkil regency after mobs attacked and burned down churches, allegedly due to the establishments having been built without a church construction permit.

An autonomous region, Aceh is the only province in Indonesia currently living according to the rules of sharia law, and thus the local administration is able to impose Islamic bylaws. (rin)

Source:
courtesy of THE JAKARTA POST

by The Jakarta Post

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