The Ugamo Malim Minority Group and Their Legal and Human Rights Challenges in Indonesia

The Ugamo Malim is one of the religious minorities in Indonesia. Although most Batak people today are adherents of Christianity and Islam, certain Batak people sought to maintain their own religious beliefs and practices. However, most Batak people have abandoned it and converted to the imported religions such as Christian and Islam. Accordingly, Ugamo Malim rejected the western notion of God; they prefer the term "spirits" or "divinities" (Mula Jadi Nabolon). Due to the Indonesian state legal definition and category of religion, Ugamo Malim loses the opportunity to gain legal status, identity, and recognition, including their employment opportunities in public offices. For example, the No. 1 PNPS 1965 on Blasphemy Law includes the Ugamo Malim as an unofficial religious group, except Islam, Christianity, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. Although Indonesia's legal framework guarantees freedom of religion and belief, however, these fundamental rights do not guarantee the right of Ugamo Malim. Therefore, many minority groups, like Ugamo Malim, suffered from various forms of discrimination by the State of Indonesia. The study would help the Indonesian government to have a better comprehension regarding the framework they can introduce which would help in protecting the identity of the Ugamo Malim Minority religion. Keywords: human rights, religious identity, Ugamo Malim, unofficial religion, violatio