The Indonesia’s 1974 marriage law stipulates that marriage can only be legally recognized if it is performed according to the religion of both parties.

In this country, religion is the main issue in marriage. Marriages between different religions are not allowed. Both spouses must have the same faith in order to get married legally.

Following main religions are recognized:

Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity (Catholicism and Protestantism).

After a recent debate on interfaith marriages and even petition the Constitutional Court, supported by the Religious Affairs  Minister rejected last week a judicial review of the law’s art. 2 that regulates interfaith marriages, maintaining its current provision that stipulates that a marriage can only be considered legitimate if it is conducted in line with the rituals of a religion to which both the bride and groom adhere.

Interfaith marriage appeared to remain a sensitive topic in the world’s largest Muslim population.

As recently more mixed marriages are planned the foreigner’s home Consulate were contacted about above one religion rule.

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