This likely has to do with the fact that Islamic law forbids the construction of new churches. Christians are “forbidden to ring church bells or display crosses, recite the Torah or Evangel aloud, or make public display of their funerals and feastdays, and are forbidden to build new churches” – Reliance of the Traveller o.11.5 (6,7)
“Wedding Disrupted, Worship Banned at Site in Indonesia,” Morning Star News, July 5, 2024:
SURABAYA, INDONESIA (Morning Star News) – Local officials in Indonesia on Sunday (June 30) stopped a wedding ceremony and banned the church from further worship meetings at the site, sources said.
In Mergosari, Tarik District, Sidoarjo Regency of Java island, village head Eko Budi Santoso halted the wedding at the Pentecostal Church in Indonesia (Gereja Pentekosta di Indonesia, or GPdI) site and banned them from meeting, claiming the congregation lacked a building permit and that area residents opposed their church, local media reported.
Area residents in the Muslim-majority country reportedly said they were not opposed to the presence of the church worshipping at the “House of Prayer,” a structure that does not have the function and markings of a church building.
Declining to allow the congregation to finish the wedding and worship, Eko and five state officials took Pastor Yoab Setiawan to a roadside stall to tell him they were responding to public complaints about the existence of the prayer house and the lack of permit, according to media outlet radarsidoarjo.jawapos.com.
A video by the Hagios Legal Aid Institute (Lembaga Bantuan Hukum, or LBH), shows Pastor Setiawan telling the officials that they might first ban the prostitution taking place in front of the village head office. The pastor’s wife, Lidya Laviyanti, adds, “We’re not causing any trouble, sir. We’re sorry, we ask for your understanding. We come from everywhere. We are a minority group. Our congregation is small in number. So please understand.
Village head Eko, motioning to the head of the community association and the head of the neighborhood association, says all activities must have permission from the “neighborhood.”
Pastor Setiawan and his wife ask him what activities, and Eko responds, “All activities. Period,” and ends the discussion.
The House of Prayer is registered through a local government report certificate signed by the Christian Community Guidance Regional Office leader, Luki Krispriyanto, on Dec. 7, 2023, according to International Christian Concern (ICC), which said Eko admitted he was not aware of the certificate.
At a meeting with the parties in conflict at the office of the village head in Mergosari village, 10 miles from Surabaya, on Monday (July 1), the acting regent of Sidoarjo, identified only as Subandi, supported the ban at the site but said congregation members could worship at home, according to Celah.id.
Officials at the meeting concluded that the church must obtain a building permit, which they said they would expedite. They gave a deadline of one month to complete the permit.
“While waiting for permission to be completed, you can worship at home,” Subandi said on Tuesday (July 2), according to celah.id. “It doesn’t mean that you are not allowed to worship.”
Asserting that residents welcomed construction of a place of worship and upheld tolerance among religious communities, Subandi suggested the parties build good communication among themselves.
An area resident said that they were not disturbed by the congregation’s worship activities, according to detik.com. Even when hundreds of people attended, the residents welcomed them, said the resident, identified as 53-year-old Mulyati. Another resident, 25-year-old Agus Febro, said that residents, especially young people, never felt unrest due to the prayer house’s Sunday activities.
Bonar Tigor Naipospos, deputy chairman of the Setara Institute for Democracy and Peace, a human rights organization, said the case was “a clear sign of state subordination to the will of the intolerant groups.”…
somehistory says
More persecution of Christians. Everywhere it is happening, and the world which “hates Jesus” does not give a care.
As this prophecy from Christ is True and happening everywhere there are Christians, all of His other Words will also come True.
Mike says
Imagine if a Western country said that it would forbid the construction of any new mosques.
A lot of progressives would condemn such a policy as control-freak, discriminatory garbage.
But, when Muslims do the same thing towards non-Muslims, they get a free pass from the “woke” crowd, for the most part.
Richard James says
What like Poland? They won’t let them build a mosque unless they can build a church in their country
Jennifer says
STOP all funding to Indonesia.
All western Countries should stop Islamic worship & demolish all Mosques!
࿗Infidel࿘ says
?
Patriot64 says
If Muslims want to start a religious war. Then bring it on.
abu taleb says
In Indonesia, there are many mosques without permit, yet, the government not only ignores it, but also helps those mosques. Same thing can not be expected for churches or other religious worshipping place. But no muslim ever says this.
The point is, there is no moderate muslim, they are either ignorant muslims which means they are not really muslims, or muslims who pretend to be friendly with non muslims.
Scotsman48 says
I always laugh when I read in the Western MSM Press that Indonesia and Malaysia are both moderate islamic Nations but they totally ignore the fact that such actions as this article states is more common that you would think plus Malaysia made it illegal for a non muslim to use the word allah in public as they state this word is for use by muslims ONLY, even though its an Arabic word for God and Christians have used this name for centuries and Malaysia is not an Arabic speaking Nation but muslims will always claim to be the victim every time.
muslim dont want a Church near their area but muslims demand to build a mosque in an area of non muslims, which tells you just how loving and tolerant they are of others…