Release International

Islamist hardliners in Indonesia have announced a fatwa declaring that only a Muslim could be president – much to the alarm of the nation's Christians.

The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), the nation's top Islamic body, issued the religious edict in West Sumatra – and immediately drew sharp criticism from Christian leaders.

Sonny Wuisan, leader of the Christian Democratic Party, told the news agency Adnkronos International: 'This fatwa is against the constitution and the MUI should limit itself to discussing religion.'

Indonesia's constitution recognises five religions and citizens of any faith are allowed to run for public office. Fatwas have no standing in secular law but devout Muslims consider it a sin to ignore them. All candidates running in the presidential elections scheduled for July are Muslim. The MUI also issued fatwas banning yoga and smoking.

Religious rights groups have also spoken out against the increasing number of Sharia-inspired laws being introduced by local governments in half of all Indonesian provinces. These laws impose strict Islamic codes on both Muslims and non-Muslims alike. In Padang, West Sumatra, laws require all women to wear headscarves.

Compass Direct points out that these are likely to become hot issues in the run-up to legislative elections in April and, later, the presidential ballot. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is widely expected to form a coalition with Islamic parties to win a majority against the Golkar party which is allied with former president Megawati Sukarnoputri.

(Sources: Adnkronos International, BBC, Compass Direct)

* Pray that the MUI will be forced to retract the fatwa on presidential candidates.
* Pray that President Yudhoyono will not jeopardise religious freedom in Indonesia by courting Islamist hardliners in the run-up to the presidential election.

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