Indonesia Highlights: Government to Protect Shia, Ahmadiyah Religious Groups: New Minister | Coronavirus: Travelers Can Get Airline Refund If Pre-Departure Test Result Positive | Indonesia Records Ove

KOMPAS.com – Indonesia’s newly-appointed Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas said that the rights of Muslim minorities – Shia and Ahmadiyah – will be protected in Indonesia.

The two religious groups have faced difficulties when practicing their beliefs such as persecution and being expelled from their hometowns. Other minority religious groups have also been prohibited to build their places of worship.

Therefore, the minister, who is also chairman of GP Ansor – a youth wing of the Nahdlatul Ulama, the largest Muslim organization in the country – will facilitate a more intensive dialogue to bridge differences.

On the issue of coronavirus, as more people are now traveling during the year-end holiday, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said that prospective passengers can make a refund in case they test positive for Covid-19 before their departure. As they are not allowed to continue their journey, they can get their money back.

Below are excerpts from the stories in Indonesia, curated by Kompas.com editors:

1. Government to Protect Shia, Ahmadiyah Religious Groups: New Minister

KOMPAS.COM/KRISTIANTO ERDIANTO The newly-appointed Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.

Indonesia’s newly-appointed Religious Affairs Minister, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, said that the government will protect the rights of Shia and Ahmadiyah religious groups in the country.

This was brought up by Yaqut in response to a request made by an Indonesian Muslim scholar, Azyumardi Azra, who is also a professor at the Syarif Hidayatullah Islamic State University (UIN) Jakarta.

“They are citizens who we must protect,” said Yaqut said as reported by State News Antara on Friday, December 25.

Yaqut said any minority religious groups must not be expelled from their hometowns because of their beliefs.

The Religious Affairs Ministry would facilitate a more intensive dialogue to bridge differences.

Source: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2020/12/26/09561771/menag-yaqut-akan-indungi-hak-beragama-warga-syiah-dan-ahmadiyah