"We can see that currently, our non-Muslim brothers and sisters register their marriage in civil registration offices when it is supposed to be the affairs of the Ministry of Religious Affairs,"
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas said that religious affairs offices (KUAs) will not only provide services such as marriage registrations, to Muslims, but also people from other religions.

"We have agreed that KUAs will become centers of religious affairs services for all religions. KUA can become a place for marriage of (people from) all religions," he said, according to a statement released by his ministry here on Saturday.

He delivered the statement at the working meeting of the Directorate General of Muslim Community Guidance, which was themed "Transformation of Islamic Religious Services and Guidance as a Foundation for Sustainable National Development" which was held in Jakarta on Friday (February 23, 2024).

According to Qoumas, by expanding the function of KUAs as offices that provide marriage registration services for all religions, data on marriage and divorce can be made more integrated.

"We can see that currently, our non-Muslim brothers and sisters register their marriage in civil registration offices when it is supposed to be the affairs of the Ministry of Religious Affairs," he said.

The minister also expressed the hope that the halls at KUAs would be used as temporary places of worship for non-Muslims facing difficulty setting up their own places of worship due to economic, social, and other factors.

"Let us help our non-Muslim brothers and sisters to carry out their worship activities well. It is the duty of Muslims, as the majority population, to provide protection to minorities, not the other way around," he said.

Meanwhile, the director general of Muslim community guidance, Kamaruddin Amin, confirmed that in 2024, his side will launch KUAs as centers of religious affairs services for all religions.

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Translator: Asep Firmansyah, Raka Adji
Editor: Arie Novarina
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