"We have facilitated such an initiative overseas, drawing 87 couples to participate last month in Taiwan," Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar remarked while reviewing a mass wedding ceremony at Istiqlal Mosque in Central Jakarta on Thursday.
Umar, who also serves as the mosque's grand imam, noted that the government plans to hold similar activities in Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, and other places with large Indonesian communities.
He emphasized that the program aims to ease access for economically disadvantaged couples to have their marriages recognized under both national and religious laws.
The minister explained that legalizing marital status is essential for residents to access important administrative services, such as birth certificates, family registration documents, ID cards, and passports.
Children born to parents without marriage certificates often lack birth certificates, which makes it difficult for them to obtain ID cards and passports, Umar said. He added that passports are also crucial for joining the Hajj pilgrimage.
Umar expressed appreciation to the media for supporting and promoting the program by sharing information with the public.
"I believe this program can be heartwarming news. I would like to thank colleagues from the media for your contributions," he told the press.
Earlier, on August 24, the Religious Affairs Ministry worked with the Indonesian Trade and Economic Office in Taipei to hold a mass wedding for 87 Indonesian migrant couples.
The event was held in two sessions and followed a strict verification process under Religious Affairs Minister’s Regulation No. 30 of 2024 on Marriage Registration.
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Translator: Asep F, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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