Discrimination in yhe Registration of Marriages of Different Religions: Regulation and Practice in Southeast Asia

Authors

  • Wensislaus Parut Pontificial Facoltà Teologica Marianum
  • Ferdi Yufriadi IDRIS Darulfunun Institute
  • Valensius Ngardi Sanata Dharma University
  • Meisya Anggraini Rizki Universitas Gadjah Mada

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30983/alhurriyah.v9i1.8544

Keywords:

Discrimination, Interfaith Marriage, Southeast Asia

Abstract

This research focuses on discrimination against religious minorities in Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam, three countries with strong religious traditions and legal systems. As a result of this diversity, different religious backgrounds often raise significant legal and social issues when they want to register their marriages, resulting in unpredictable events and difficulties when settling serious matters. This research utilises a qualitative methodology to examine legal texts, court judgements, court decisions, and data from case studies and interviews, which illustrate the complex interaction between religious and sectarian law. Through a comparative analysis of laws in Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam, this study explains how religious and sectarian norms in the legal system impact discriminatory practices. The research findings of legal and administrative challenges faced by interfaith couples, such as denial of marriage registration and the risk of social stigma, suggest a broader tension between religious authorities and state governance. With comprehensive legal reforms that not only address religious issues but also protect the rights of all individuals, and provide valuable insights and recommendations that can be implemented globally by those responsible for the practice of law, particularly in Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam

References

Amri, Aulil. ‘Perkawinan Beda Agama Menurut Hukum Positif Dan Hukum Islam’. Media Syari’ah 22, no. 1 (6 May 2020): 48. https://doi.org/10.22373/jms.v22i1.6719.

Anthony, Francis-Vincent. ‘Intercultural Lived Ecclesiology: The Asian Synodal Praxis of Communio, Partecipatio et Missio Inter Gentes’. Religions 14, no. 7 (21 July 2023): 942. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14070942.

Azaria, Sally. ‘Christian Youth Preferences in Interfaith Marriage: A Study Case in Surabaya, Indonesia’. In Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Law, Social Sciences, and Education, ICLSSE 2022, 28 October 2022, Singaraja, Bali, Indonesia. Singaraja, Indonesia: EAI, 2023. https://doi.org/10.4108/eai.28-10-2022.2326394.

Bukido, Rosdalina, Edi Gunawan, Djamila Usup, and Hayat Hayat. ‘Negotiating Love and Faith: Interfaith Marriage in Manado, Indonesia’. Wawasan: Jurnal Ilmiah Agama Dan Sosial Budaya 6, no. 1 (20 August 2021): 67–76. https://doi.org/10.15575/jw.v6i1.11299.

Çiğdem, Recep. ‘Interfaith Marriage in Comparative Perspective’. Acta Orientalia Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 68, no. 1 (March 2015): 59–86. https://doi.org/10.1556/AOrient.68.2015.1.4.

Crespin-Boucaud, Juliette. ‘Interethnic and Interfaith Marriages in Sub-Saharan Africa’. World Development 125 (January 2020): 104668. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2019.104668.

Dirth, Thomas P., and Nyla R. Branscombe. ‘Recognizing Ableism: A Social Identity Analysis of Disabled People Perceiving Discrimination as Illegitimate’. Journal of Social Issues 75, no. 3 (September 2019): 786–813. https://doi.org/10.1111/josi.12345.

Dollahite, David C., and Loren D. Marks, eds. Strengths in Diverse Families of Faith: Exploring Religious Differences. 1st ed. Routledge, 2020. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429296307.

Gemilang, Kemas Muhammad, Hengki Firmanda, Maghfirah Maghfirah, Hellen Lastfitriani, and Abdul Rahim Hakimi. ‘Discussing the Phenomenon of the Appointment of Judges in District Courts Regarding Interfaith Marriages from a Legal Logic Perspective’. Al-Istinbath: Jurnal Hukum Islam 8, no. 2 November (9 November 2023): 307. https://doi.org/10.29240/jhi.v8i2.8185.

Gutiérrez Del Moral, María Jesús. ‘Libertad Religiosa e Igualdad de Género En La Jurisprudencia Del Tribunal Europeo de Derechos Humanos’. Revista Catalana de Dret Públic, no. 66 (14 June 2023): 204–22. https://doi.org/10.58992/rcdp.i66.2023.3870.

Hamdani, Muhammad Faisal, Zubair, M. Jamil Jamil, and Fatimah Zuhrah. ‘The Legal and Human Rights Challenges of Interfaith Marriage in Indonesia’. Journal of Law and Sustainable Development 11, no. 12 (14 December 2023): e1020. https://doi.org/10.55908/sdgs.v11i12.1020.

Haqqi, Abdurrahman Raden Aji. ‘ISLAMIC LAW IN STATE LIFE OF BRUNEI DARUSSALAM’. Journal of Malay Islamic Studies 1, no. 2 (30 December 2017): 81–92. https://doi.org/10.19109/jmis.v1i2.2540.

Koumoutzis, Nikos. ‘Judicial Review of Mufti Decisions Applying Islamic Family Law in Greece’. Laws 12, no. 3 (15 June 2023): 58. https://doi.org/10.3390/laws12030058.

Lestiawati, Ida, Maisa Maisa, and Abdul Manan. ‘Comparison of the Legal Regulation of Adultery as Social Control in Society: A Comparison Between Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, and Turkey’. SASI 30, no. 2 (28 June 2024): 183. https://doi.org/10.47268/sasi.v30i2.2049.

Lifshitz, Felice. ‘“A Piece of Cachou Called Ivanhoe”: Elizabeth Taylor, Medievalist Historical Film and American Interfaith Marriage’. Journal of Jewish Studies 70, no. 2 (1 October 2019): 375–97. https://doi.org/10.18647/3423/jjs-2019.

Mahbub Ali, Amum. ‘INTERFAITH MARRIAGEPERSPECTIVE OF LEGAL CERTAINTY AFTER THE ISSUANCE OF THE SUPREME COURT CIRCULAR NUMBER 2 OF 2023’. Ta’dibiya 3, no. 2 (1 October 2023): 44–58. https://doi.org/10.61624/japi.v3i2.57.

Mu, Zheng. ‘Hui Muslims’ Endogamy and Intermarriages: Marriage Markets, Islamic Culture, and Economic Growth’. Journal of Comparative Family Studies 52, no. 4 (1 January 2022): 540–68. https://doi.org/10.3138/jcfs.52.4.02.

Mutakin, Ali. ‘FIQH PERKAWINAN BEDA AGAMA DI INDONESIA: Kajian Atas Fatwa-Fatwa NU, MUI Dan Muhammadiyyah’. Al-Ahwal: Jurnal Hukum Keluarga Islam 14, no. 1 (10 May 2021): 11. https://doi.org/10.14421/ahwal.2021.14102.

Najibah Mohd Zin, Nora Abdul Hak, Abdul Ghafur Hamid @ Khin Maung Sein, and Hidayati Mohamed Jani. ‘THE AMENDMENT TO THE LAW REFORM (MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE) ACT 1976: RECONCILING THE IRRECONCILABLE’. IIUM Law Journal 29, no. (S1) (12 May 2021): 1–15. https://doi.org/10.31436/iiumlj.v29i(S1).631.

Nolte, Insa. ‘“At Least I Am Married”: Muslim–Christian Marriage and Gender in Southwest Nigeria’. Social Anthropology 28, no. 2 (May 2020): 434–50. https://doi.org/10.1111/1469-8676.12765.

Rahayu, Sulis. ‘Legal Implications of Enforcement of the Supreme Court Circular Number 2 of 2023 on the Civil Rights of Interfaith Marriages’. Formosa Journal of Applied Sciences 2, no. 11 (30 November 2023): 2885–96. https://doi.org/10.55927/fjas.v2i11.6965.

Rosidah, Zaidah Nur, Lego Karjoko, and Mohd Rizal Palil. ‘The Governmentâ€TMs Role in Interfaith Marriage Rights Protection: A Case Study of Adjustment and Social Integration’. Journal of Human Rights, Culture and Legal System 3, no. 2 (2 June 2023): 265–87. https://doi.org/10.53955/jhcls.v3i2.105.

———. ‘The Government’s Role in Interfaith Marriage Rights Protection: A Case Study of Adjustment and Social Integration’. Journal of Human Rights, Culture and Legal System 3, no. 2 (2 June 2023): 265–87. https://doi.org/10.53955/jhcls.v3i2.105.

Roy, Roudi Nazarinia, Alethea Rollins, Anthony G. James, and Maureen Perry-Jenkins. ‘An Introduction to the Special Section on Multiracial Families: The Challenges, Strengths, and Work That Remains’. Journal of Child and Family Studies 31, no. 3 (March 2022): 599–608. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-022-02260-x.

Safiera, Dhea Eldi, and Sonyendah Retnaningsih. ‘Registration of Interfaith Marriages in Indonesia Based on Supreme Court Circular Number 2 of 2023’. Asian Journal of Engineering, Social and Health 3, no. 6 (4 June 2024): 1157–69. https://doi.org/10.46799/ajesh.v3i6.329.

Shoaf, Hannah K., Justin J. Hendricks, Loren D. Marks, David C. Dollahite, Heather H. Kelley, and Sandra Gomez Ward. ‘Strengths and Strategies in Interfaith Marriages’. Marriage & Family Review 58, no. 8 (17 November 2022): 675–701. https://doi.org/10.1080/01494929.2022.2093311.

Snyder, Robert Lance. ‘American Patricians: Charles McCarry’s Mythic Family Saga’. Orbis Litterarum 77, no. 2 (April 2022): 103–13. https://doi.org/10.1111/oli.12295.

Sonkar, Sumit. ‘Policing Interfaith Marriages: Constitutional Infidelity of the Love Jihad Ordinance’. Journal of Law and Religion 37, no. 3 (September 2022): 432–45. https://doi.org/10.1017/jlr.2022.37.

Suhasti, Ermi, Siti Djazimah, and Hartini Hartini. ‘Polemics on Interfaith Marriage in Indonesia between Rules and Practices’. Al-Jami’ah: Journal of Islamic Studies 56, no. 2 (30 May 2019): 367–94. https://doi.org/10.14421/ajis.2018.562.367-394.

Sumbulah, Umi, Agus Purnomo, and Jamilah Jamilah. ‘ISLAM, LOCAL WISDOM AND RELIGIOUS HARMONY: RELIGIOUS MODERATION IN EAST-JAVA CHRISTIAN VILLAGE BASES’. El Harakah: Jurnal Budaya Islam 24, no. 1 (30 June 2022): 21–39. https://doi.org/10.18860/eh.v24i1.16264.

Van Niekerk, Jana, and Maykel Verkuyten. ‘Interfaith Marriage Attitudes in Muslim Majority Countries: A Multilevel Approach’. The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion 28, no. 4 (2 October 2018): 257–70. https://doi.org/10.1080/10508619.2018.1517015.

Verma, Shweta, and Neelam Sukhramani. ‘Interfaith Marriages and Negotiated Spaces’. Society and Culture in South Asia 4, no. 1 (January 2018): 16–43. https://doi.org/10.1177/2393861717730620.

Widayati, Elvi. ‘The Worldview Of Social Harmony Bulding In The Pluralisme A Phenomenology Study in Balun Village, Turi District, Lamongan Regency’. Journal of Islamic Civilization 1, no. 1 (15 April 2019): 49–61. https://doi.org/10.33086/jic.v1i1.945.

Yasin, Noer, Musataklima Musataklima, and Ahmad Wahidi. ‘Interlegality Perkawinan Beda Agama Vis a Vis Surat Edaran Mahkamah Agung Nomot 2 Tahun 2023 Tentang Penolakan Permohonan Pencatatan Perkawinan Beda Agama Di Indonesia’. Jurnal Penelitian Hukum De Jure 23, no. 4 (22 November 2023): 389. https://doi.org/10.30641/dejure.2023.V23.389-402.

Zainal, Humairah. ‘Intersectional Identities: Influences of Religion, Race, and Gender on the Intimate Relationships of Single Singaporean Malay-Muslim Women’. Marriage & Family Review 54, no. 4 (19 May 2018): 351–73. https://doi.org/10.1080/01494929.2017.1414725.

Downloads

Submitted

2024-08-03

Accepted

2024-10-21

Published

2024-08-30

Issue

Section

Articles