http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1002/S00549.htm
In Indonesia religion and freedom from religion are under assault.
“In 2007 the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination noted with concern that mixed-faith couples – in which the man and woman hold different recognized beliefs – faced difficulties in officially registering their marriages and that their children were not provided with birth certificates, as they were not the products of “lawful” marriage. Paradoxically, people that change their religion in order to marry their partner can face stigmatization.
Furthermore, there is no provision for individuals with no religious belief to enter into a civil marriage contract, and no legal documentation for those without such a belief. This results in people keeping their atheist beliefs secret and when the time comes to marry, they make the choice of either marrying in a religious ceremony that is devoid of meaning for them, or not marrying at all, which can leave their family and offspring without legal protection.
Moreover, under Indonesian Law No. 23 of 2006 on Civic Administration, individuals are required to record their faith on legal documents such as identity cards and birth certificates. Atheists who ascribe to no religion or those who wish to leave the column blank or to register under one of the “non-recognized” religions face discrimination and harassment - including refusal of employment. “
Here is an issue where secularists and the religious should come together to say that this is unacceptable. Surely the religious can agree that there is no harm in mixed-faith couples (leaving out the fundamentalists of course). Atheists should not have to be forced into hiding who they are. This story is a reminder that while the voices of atheism are growing, we still have a way to go.
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