The Indonesian Scholars Network on Freedom of Religion or Belief (ISFoRB), the Indonesian Consortium for Religious Studies (ICRS), and the Religious and Cross-Cultural Studies Program, in collaboration with the Graduate School of Universitas Gadjah Mada, held a soft launch and public discussion of the textbook and the interpretation of Articles 300–305 of the 2023 Criminal Code. This hybrid event involved various universities in seven cities in Indonesia on Thursday (January 23, 2025).
The 2023 Criminal Code still regulates crimes against religion under Articles 300–305, with the aim of maintaining social harmony and protecting freedom of religion and belief in Indonesia. Therefore, interpreting these articles is crucial to prevent abuse of the law and ensure a balance between legal protection and human rights. The launch of this interpretation aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of Articles 300–305 of the 2023 Criminal Code, stimulate academic and public discussion on their application in a pluralistic society, and provide academic resources for law enforcement officials, civil society organizations, and academics.
This event is strongly relevant to several goals in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, which emphasizes the importance of building an inclusive, just, and discrimination-free society. By clarifying the interpretation of Articles 300–305 of the 2023 Criminal Code, this event contributes to ensuring legal certainty that protects the rights of individuals and groups based on the principle of freedom of religion and belief. Furthermore, this event also supports Goal 4: Quality Education, by providing academic teaching materials that can be used in various universities to improve legal literacy and understanding of religious freedom in Indonesia.
Furthermore, this event aligns with the 10th goal on Reducing Inequality, specifically ensuring that every individual has equal rights in social life, including religious freedom without discrimination. By involving various stakeholders, from academics, law enforcement officials, civil society organizations, and students, this discussion is expected to foster a shared understanding and concrete steps to support inclusive legal policies that respect diversity in Indonesia.
The event was attended by various speakers, including Moch. Choirul Rizal (ISFoRB Researcher and Lecturer at the Faculty of Sharia at IAIN Kediri), Dian Andriasari (ISFoRB Researcher and Lecturer at the Faculty of Law at UNISBA Bandung), Prof. Dr. Eddy Hiariej (Deputy Minister of Law of the Republic of Indonesia), representatives from the Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia, representatives from the Attorney General's Office of the Republic of Indonesia, academics from the Faculty of Law at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), and representatives from civil society organizations. Participants included representatives from the Ministry of Law and the Ministry of Religious Affairs, law enforcement officials, civil society organizations, academics, students, and socio-religious activists.
This public discussion is expected to provide a forum for various parties to discuss the implementation of more inclusive and equitable laws in the context of freedom of religion and belief in Indonesia, and contribute to the achievement of the SDGs through more just and harmonious legal policies.
Author: Master of Laws Program, Universitas Gadjah Mada
