KUALA LUMPUR: Indonesian singers Rizky Febian and Mahalini Raharja have been instructed by the South Jakarta Religious Court to re-do their marriage ceremony.
The court rejected their request for marriage validation, citing procedural and religious discrepancies in their initial wedding, according to the Jakarta Globe.
The couple's May 2024 wedding drew widespread attention as Mahalini, originally Hindu, converted to Islam to comply with Indonesia's laws prohibiting interfaith marriages.
Despite this, the court found that their ceremony did not meet the legal standards required for recognition.
Suryana, spokesperson for the South Jakarta Religious Court, explained that the invalidation stemmed from the appointment of an improper marriage guardian, or wali hakim.
According to Religious Affairs Ministry Regulation No. 30 of 2005, a bride without a legal guardian due to conversion must be represented by the head of the local Office of Religious Affairs (KUA) or a close family member.
In Mahalini's case, the ustaz who married them served as the guardian, which is not permitted.
"The guardian was not qualified under the law, rendering the marriage invalid. To correct this, the couple must register with the KUA and repeat their ceremony with a proper wali hakim," Suryana said.
While the court acknowledged that the couple acted in good faith, it emphasised the need for adherence to proper procedures.
"This appears to be a case of miscommunication and lack of awareness. Rizky and Mahalini should not be blamed entirely for the oversight," Suryana said.
The court clarified that Rizky and Mahalini could appeal the decision. However, if they choose not to, they must follow the outlined steps to ensure their marriage is legally recognised.
Rizky and Mahalini started dating on Feb 7, 2022, and got engaged on May 7, 2023.