Bahai Activities in Indonesia

The National Spiritual Assembly of Baha’is of Indonesia was elected on 21st April 1954.

The Baha’i administration in Haifa entrusted the propagation of the Baha’i Faith in Indonesia to India and of Mentawai Islands to Australia. Baha’is went on forming local Assemblies. They went for mass teaching approach towards propagation of the Baha’i Faith which resulted in the growth of the Baha’i population there. In 1957 they acquired a temple site to build a Baha’i Temple in future. At the same time, Baha’is went on incorporating their local Assembly to avoid any action from the Government of Indonesia in future.

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Bahá’ís arrested in Indonesia on Criminal Charges of violating “The Law of Child Protection”

The Indonesian Police arrested three Bahá’ís on criminal charges of teaching and converting Muslim children in Lampung Timur, Sumatra. The Police mentioned there is very compelling evidence of the crime and violation.

The Government of Indonesia requires that official religions comply with a number of Ministry of Religious Affairs and other ministerial directives in their registration and activities. Among these are the Regulation on Building Houses of Worship (Joint-Ministerial Decree No. 1/1969); the Guidelines for the Propagation of Religion (Ministerial Decision No. 70/1978); Overseas Aid to Religious Institutions in Indonesia (Ministerial Decision No. 20/1978); and Proselytizing Guidelines (No. 77/1978). Law of Child Protection 23-2002 which states that “whoever converts or attempts to convert children to other religion will be charged up to 5 years prison or fine of U$10,000 or both.

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