Anies Baswedan: A Firm Commitment to Granting Church Establishment Permits in Jakarta
theolingua.id – Anies Baswedan, when he was governor of Jakarta, emphasised his commitment to upholding justice and equality for all religious communities. One of the concrete steps he has taken is to resolve the issue of building permits for churches that have been stalled for decades in Jakarta.
During the inaugural debate of the 2024 Presidential Election on Tuesday, 12 December 2023, Anies revealed that he successfully resolved the issue of many church permits that had been stalled for up to 30-40 years when he served as Governor of DKI Jakarta for the 2017-2022 period.
‘When I was in Jakarta, there were so many church permits that had been stalled for 30-40 years, and they were completed,’ Anies said in the debate.
Record for Granting Church Building Permits in Jakarta
Anies stated that he was the governor of Jakarta who granted the most permits for the construction of houses of worship. He considered that the licensing of houses of worship should prioritise the principles of justice and equality for all religious adherents.
‘Many religious groups have had difficulty in establishing places of worship, and finally they are able to worship properly,’ said Anies.
The chairman of the Indonesian Pentecostal Churches Fellowship (PGPI), Jason Balompapueng, also appreciated Anies’s efforts to fight for the rights of Christians in Jakarta. In an event at the Bethel Indonesia Church (GBI) Mawar Sharon, North Jakarta, on 30 November 2023, Jason expressed his gratitude to Anies for having issued more than 50 church building permits during his tenure.
‘When it comes to that, he is committed. He really has issued 50 building permits for churches during his time in office in Jakarta,’ said Jason.
Jason also acknowledged that Anies’ contribution was real in creating tolerance between religious communities in the capital. He even felt indebted to Anies for the policy that made it easier to establish churches.
‘We are just saying that we are indebted to Mr Anies Rasyid Baswedan for what he has done for Christianity in DKI Jakarta during 2017-2022. May God bless you,’ he added.
Award for Religious Harmony and Coexistence
Anies Baswedan has also received recognition from various parties for his leadership, which is considered to have created harmony among religious communities. Jason Balompapueng highlighted the Harmoni Award from the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs given to Anies as clear evidence that Jakarta under his leadership remains safe, peaceful, and just.
‘I look at it from the perspective of interfaith harmony and diversity. If I’m not mistaken, he received the Harmony Award from the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs. This proves that during his leadership, Jakarta has remained safe, peaceful, and just,’ Jason explained.
Anies himself emphasised that the main principles of his leadership are justice and equality. According to him, worship facilities for all religious communities must be given equal rights without discrimination.
‘The principles we uphold are those of justice and equality. All facilities provided must be equal,’ said Anies.
Real Steps in Upholding Freedom of Worship
During his tenure as Governor of DKI Jakarta, Anies Baswedan has shown an inclusive attitude by providing easy licensing for places of worship, not only for Muslims but also for Christians and other religions. This attitude is proof that he is a leader who upholds tolerance and diversity in Indonesia.
With various policies that have been implemented during his leadership, Anies Baswedan has further strengthened his image as a leader who cares about freedom of worship and equal rights for all Indonesian people. The decision to accelerate the issuance of church building permits, which have been pending for decades, is a concrete step in building a more inclusive and harmonious Indonesia for all groups.
