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)
In the Islamic scheme of things, the Islamic community must always grow, and the non-Muslim community always diminish.
“Radical Muslims in Indonesia Disrupt Maundy Thursday Mass,” Morning Star News, April 23, 2025:
SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – A group of Muslims disrupted the Maundy Thursday Mass of a church in Indonesia last week, the latest in a series of protests at the site, sources reported.
In the village of Sukamiskin, Arcamanik Subdistrict, Bandung, capital of West Java Province, radical Muslims of the Arcamanik Diversity in Unity Citizens Communication Forum demonstrated in front of the Arcamanik Multipurpose Building (Gedung Serba Guna, or GSG) where the St. Odilia Parish church met for worship on Thursday (April 17).
The protestors disrupted the Holy Thursday worship with loudspeakers, banners, and blaring music at the site at the former St. Odelia Catholic Higher Education for Religious Teachers compound, according to news portal bandungbergerak.id. Congregation members still arriving were forced to find a route around the blockade.
The protesters demanded that the Arcamanik Multipurpose Building not be used for a place of worship.
“This building is a multipurpose building – don’t change and convert it to another use, especially a place of worship,” said Budi Haryono, protest coordinator, according to bandungbergerak.id. “Please sort out the permits and the legal aspects. But what is clear is that until now, [this building] is still a multi-purpose building.”
Denying that they were disrupting the Maundy Thursday Mass, the protestors claimed they were merely questioning the function of the building as a place of worship that allegedly does not comply with its permit.
“They [GSG management] said they were working on changing the function of the building to the authorities, but that is impossible,” said a protesting resident told bandungbergerak.id.
Besides delaying the service, the protestors broadcast national songs that drowned out the Mass, according to bandungbergerak.id.
Several demonstrators shortly before 5 p.m. tried to break through a line of security officers, pushing a few meters closer to the GSG, but police stopped their progress….
abu taleb says
Meanwhile, Vatican is busy appeasing the Islamists, not defending its church members.
OLD GUY says
Amen! But this behavior of islamic followers seems to be accepted as normal everyday life by the leaders of non-muslim states and other religions. Turn the other cheek only goes so far and then you break your own neck, Thats Islam’s hope.