REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PURWOKERTO -- A legislator has asked the Justice and Human Rights Minister to explain rumors circulating over discrimination allegedly faced by passengers named 'Muhammad' and 'Ali' in using an airport's immigration auto gate system.

"The minister should summon immigration officials to explain the auto gate case. This can tarnish Indonesia's principles of diversity and justice," legislator Saleh Partaonan Daulay, who is the chairman of Commission VIII, which oversees religious and social affairs, of the House of Representatives (DPR), said here on Saturday.

He added that the issue had sparked unrest and controversies among people, with many quarters stating that the auto gate facility discriminated, particularly against Muslims who mostly use the names 'Muhammad' and 'Ali.'

"This should not have happened in Indonesia where a majority of the population is Muslim," he stressed.

Daulay noted that many Indonesian Muslims had 'Muhammad' and 'Ali' as their first names.

Besides indicating their religious identity, a person being named 'Muhammad' and 'Ali' reflected their Islamic teachings, the legislator pointed out.

"The state should protect people who implement such religious teachings," Daulay remarked.

Moreover, the name 'Muhammad' is a respected name in Islam. Parents name their children after 'Muhammad' or 'Ali' because they hope they imbibe traits reflected in Muhammad and Ali.

He also urged for the case to be handled quickly before it spread to other places.

The minister should not act fast only when concerned with political matters, but should do so in this case as well, he added.

It was earlier reported that travelers named 'Muhammad' and 'Ali' faced difficulties bypassing the immigration auto gate of Soekarno Hatta International Airport.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika