Interfaith Marriage After the Issuance of the Supreme Court Circular Number 2 of 2023

Marriage Interfaith

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June 17, 2026
October 9, 2026
October 14, 2026

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Marriage in Indonesia refers to Law Number 1 of 1974 concerning Marriage, which affirms the validity of marriage based on the laws of each religion. Then the Supreme Court issued Supreme Court Circular Letter Number 2 of 2023 which internally limits judges from granting requests for registration of interfaith marriages. However, there are still judges who grant requests for registration of interfaith marriages, such as Court Decision Number 423/Pdt.P/2023/PN Jkt.Utr. This study aims to analyze the legal force of Supreme Court Circular Letter Number 2 of 2023 regarding the institution of interfaith marriage and the legal considerations for judges who grant interfaith marriages after the issuance of Supreme Court Circular Letter Number 2 of 2023. The method used in this study is normative legal research with a statutory approach and a conceptual approach. The main data sources come from laws and regulations, legal doctrine, and related literature related to interfaith marriages and interviews. The results of this study indicate that SEMA Number 2 of 2023 is internal in the judiciary. In judicial practice, judges are still found to grant interfaith marriage applications in Court Decision Number 423/Pdt.P/2023/PN Jkt.Utr following the issuance of SEMA Number 2 of 2023, considering that although administratively the Resident Identity Cards list different denominations, namely Catholic and Protestant, both are still within the Christian faith group. The legal consequences of granting such applications include registration of the marriage at the Civil Registration Office, thus deeming the marriage valid under state law, the emergence of husband and wife rights and obligations, the legal status of children, and the settlement of joint property based on an equal division between the legal husband and wife. Furthermore, this policy also has direct implications for marriage agreements, where interfaith marriage agreements are only valid and binding on the parties who make them (inter partes), and there are no clear regulations regarding joint property and the uncertainty of the status and protection of children.

How to Cite

Elsya, A. L., Azheri, B., & Yasniwati. (2026). Interfaith Marriage After the Issuance of the Supreme Court Circular Number 2 of 2023. Ekasakti Journal of Law and Justice, 4(2), 272-285. https://doi.org/10.60034/qtq47q09