- Author: Moh Rosyid
- From: STAIN Kudus
Abstract:
This article based on research carried out in 2016 among the Baha’i religious community in the village of Cebolek Kidul, District Margoyoso, Pati regency, Central Java. Baha’i is an independent religion although sometime people mistaken as a religious sect. Baha’i was first known in Persia in 1840s and came to Indonesia in 1870 brought by medical experts joint a UN?s program and merchants. Data of this article were collected through interviews, observations, documentations and focus group discussion. In Cebolek, there are 27 people of 9 families who observe Baha’i. In their village, some Muslims were accused Baha’i people as deviants. Thus Baha’i people were not allowed to be buried in the same cemetery as Muslims, in some cases Baha’i people also do not receive the same service in administrative matters from the village officers as their Muslims fellows such as do not receive religious education at formal school, do not have marriage certificate since their marriage is not acknowledged by the government. However, as other village residents, Baha’i people receive ID card, family identification card and their children may have birth certificate. Birth certificate received by Baha’i people mentions only the mother of the child since the child is considered as born out of wedlock. The same case goes to the family identification card in which the mother is stated as the head of the family. This situation has been faced by Baha’i people since the Old Order era. During the Old Order, Baha’i as an organization was banned by Presidential Decision No 264 of 1962. During the New Order era, Baha’i people suffer from the government policy which suppressed them even more. Some of government officials were threatened of fire for declaring as Baha’i people, some of them were sent to jail accused of religious blasphemy and some others were under surveillance of the Army. This policy has forced some Baha’i people to convert to other religion such as Islam. However, some others remain as Baha’i believers and asking protection such as from the Directorate of Faith of Ministry of Education and Culture, Vice President of Indonesia Sudharmono, the leader of NU Abdurrahman Wahid, Human Rights activists, the Chief of Indonesian National Police and also President Soeharto. This attempt was a failure. Rather, Baha”i people were accused of putting Muslim community in Cebolek in conflict with the government. The regulation was then annulled by President Abdurrahman Wahid with Presidential Decision No 69 of 2000. After the Reformation, Baha’i people struggle to gain public attentions in several ways: 1) distributing information on Baha’i through public meetings; 2) initiating non-formal religious class for Baha’i people and people of other religions; 3) inviting neighbors and friends during Baha’i religious celebration. Afraid of those actions, some Muslims leaders react in two ways: 1) intensifying religious meetings to strengthen Muslims faith while keep referring Baha’i as a non recognized religion; 2) supporting the Village government when the later is feeling cornered by NGO supporting Baha’i people. However, Baha’i attempts have also received positive responses from their surrounding community. They do not feel intimidated by the government and their relationship with their neighborhood is getting better. One example, when a Baha’i passed away, their male Muslim neighbors came to the house and female Muslim neighbors were reciting tahlil for three days at the deceased home.
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