In a recent ruling, Indonesia's Constitutional Court upheld the requirement for citizens to declare a religion, denying any legal recognition for atheists and nonbelievers. The court's judgment emphasized that belief in a deity is essential under the country's Pancasila ideology. This decision came after activists sought to allow nonbelievers to leave religion fields blank on official documentation. Although a 2024 ruling enabled some minority religions to be acknowledged, the petition by two agnostic activists failed, underscoring the persistent exclusion and legal challenges faced by atheists in Indonesia.
In October 2023, Indonesia's Constitutional Court ruled against a petition from atheists seeking legal recognition, reinforcing the necessity of identifying as a believer in official documents.
Despite hopes for religious inclusivity following the January ruling, the recent decision confirms that atheists and nonbelievers are not recognized under Indonesia's legal framework.
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