The legal journey of indigenous belief systems in Indonesia

• Wahyudi Wahyudi ^[1] ; Hetty Hassanah ^[2]
  1. [1] Faculty of Law Universitas Komputer Indonesia
  2. [2] Universitas Komputer Indonesia
• Localización: Sortuz: Oñati Journal of Emergent Socio-legal Studies, ISSN-e 1988-0847, Vol. 16, Nº. 1, 2026, págs. 51-69
• Idioma: inglés
• Enlaces
  • Texto completo
• Resumen

  • A persistent gap exists between Indonesia’s constitutional guarantee of religious freedom and the practical realities for adherents of indigenous belief systems, presenting a critical socio-legal dilemma. Employing normative legal analysis and policy review, this article traces the legal evolution of this contradiction. It examines the translation of constitutional and international guarantees into legislation and jurisprudence, revealing regulatory conflicts that perpetuate systemic discrimination in civil administration. The study identifies The Constitutional Court Decision No. 97/PUU-XIV/2016 as a pivotal mandate for equal recognition. However, analysis demonstrates that a significant implementation gap persists due to regulatory ambiguities and socio-cultural stigma. The findings argue that fulfilling the constitutional rights of believers necessitates sustained state commitment to legal clarity, non-discriminatory administration, and an inclusive interpretation of Pancasila, contributing to broader discourses on socio-legal inclusion and pluralism.