Religious Discrimination in Public Services: A Theological Justice Approach to Equal Citizenship in Indonesia

Abstract

Equal access to public services is a fundamental component of substantive citizenship, yet religious identity may influence how individuals experience public institutions and social services. Discrimination may occur through explicit exclusion, unequal treatment, administrative barriers, or informal institutional practices. This article examines religious discrimination in public services in Indonesia through a theological justice framework. Employing normative legal and theological analysis, the study examines equality before the law, non-discrimination, freedom of religion, and theological concepts of human dignity and impartial justice. The article argues that public institutions have a duty to remain religiously impartial while ensuring reasonable accommodation for legitimate religious practices. Religious identity should not become a basis for denying access to education, healthcare, administrative services, employment, or other public benefits. From a theological perspective, justice requires institutions to recognize the equal moral worth of persons regardless of religious affiliation. The study proposes a framework based on equal treatment, reasonable accommodation, institutional neutrality, and accessible remedies for discrimination. Such an approach can connect constitutional equality with religiously grounded commitments to justice and human dignity. Strengthening protection against religious discrimination would reinforce Indonesia's constitutional pluralism while encouraging religious communities to become active supporters of equal citizenship.