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Police to revoke circulars on MUI ban on Christmas attributes

Jakarta Post - December 19, 2016

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Jakarta – National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian has ordered the chiefs of police in Bekasi, West Java, and Kulonprogo of Yogyakarta to revoke circulars on the ban on wearing Christmas attributes based on a fatwa (religious edict) of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI).

"I have asked them [the chiefs of police in Bekasi and Kulonprogo] to revoke the circulars," Tito said at Jakarta State University campus in East Jakarta on Monday as reported by kompas.com.

He stated that the MUI fatwa was not a law, merely a reference that could be used as coordination among police offices.

"I have firmly warned the Bekasi Police chief and Kulonprogo Police chief. I warned them because it's not permitted to issue circulars based on an MUI fatwa," Tito.

"So, a MUI fatwa is not statutory law that should be upheld. [The police] should not issue circulars that could become a legal document," he added.

Bekasi Police reportedly issued a circular on Dec. 15 while Kulonprogo Police released a circular on Dec. 17, in which both instructed owners and management of businesses not to force their employees to wear Christmas attributes. (jun)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/12/19/police-to-revoke-circulars-on-mui-ban-on-christmas-attributes.html.