Aceh Singkil dan Polemik Rumah Ibadah: Jalan Damai Perspektif Kristen, Katolik, dan Akademisi Muslim

Abstract

Ideally, a house of worship is a sacred space that guarantees every believer the freedom to perform religious rituals. For Christian and Catholic communities, the church functions not only as a place of prayer but also as a center of faith formation, solidarity, and social interaction. However, the reality in Aceh Singkil reflects the opposite. The minority status of Christians, reinforced by the Qanun of Aceh following the 2005 Helsinki MoU, has made it difficult to obtain permits for constructing houses of worship. The 2015 church burning and subsequent government-led demolitions serve as evidence that this polemic has yet to find resolution. This study aims to analyze peaceful pathways to resolving the conflict over houses of worship in Aceh Singkil through the perspectives of Christian, Catholic, and academic communities. The research employs a qualitative field method that combines approaches of local wisdom, ethnography, and Islamic studies. Primary data were collected through interviews and observations, while secondary data were derived from relevant literature and policy documents. The findings indicate that conflict resolution cannot rely on a single approach. Faith serves as a moral foundation but must be supported by socio-political strategies and interreligious dialogue. The main contribution of this study lies in offering a “middle path” approach grounded in religious moderation, governmental neutrality, and the reinforcement of local values as a sustainable foundation for peaceful conflict resolution.