This is the vaunted Islamic tolerance of a foremost “moderate” Muslim country. It 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.
“Islamic Extremists Halt Church Service in Indonesia,” Morning Star News, May 29, 2026:
SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – A Muslim mob in Indonesia led by members of the Islamic extremist Islamic Jihad Front (FJI) on Sunday (May 24) stopped a church from worshiping at the congregation’s new location, sources said.
More than a dozen FJI members along with local residents forced their way into the newly rented building of the Prosperous Mission Church (GMS) in Kampung Glugo, Panggungharjo village, Sewon Sub-District, Bantul Regency, in the Special Capital Region of Yogyakarta just prior to the start of the service.
The church previously met at the Ros-In Hotel but recently switched to the new site due to rising costs. The mob objected that the congregation had not yet obtained permission for worship at the new site and that its presence in a Muslim-majority area was disturbing and could harm interfaith relations, according to multiple sources.
The intruders wearing masks, jackets bearing the FJI logo, hoodies and helmets pushed their way toward the church’s main door just before 8 a.m., as the congregation was preparing for the service. The mob protested the church presence with chants, shouts including the jihadist slogan, “Allahu Akbar [God is Greater],” and threats, with shoving between them and church leaders as police stood by.
The Bantul Police Chief said officers were on standby and had secured the area to prevent potential escalation of the conflict, according to rri.co.id. TimesIndonesia.com reported that the church, police and officials had discussed how to stem potential conflict on Saturday (May 23)
In a video of the incident, a voice from the mob is heard shouting, “If the police weren’t there, you wouldn’t be standing here forever. If the police leave you for more than 24 hours, I will burn this church down.”
The mob issued demands that frightened the congregation, causing them to leave the site at about 8:30 a.m….
More than one threat says
Although the Yogyakarta Sultanate was established in 1755, arguably the Yogyakarta region is internationally famous for Borobudur, a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist temple and Prambanan, a 9th-century Hindu temple.
Ironic they can’t tolerate a Christian church.
abu taleb says
I suspect that the Indonesian muslims were attacking the non muslims when they took control Java island around 15-16th century or even before, some Hindus ran away to Bali, so most of the current Balinese now actually the descndants of the runaway Hindus from Java. The only Hindus left in Java lives in Tengger area, a remore place 2000 meters above the sea level, Muslims probably were too lazy to to the top of the mountain to kill them.
History only tells some attacks from Islamic kingdoms to Hindu kingdom in Indonesia, never says how the attack were done. But the more recent attack in the early 1800s in West/North Sumatera revealed the ISIS style attack that included kill and rape the locals, probably some forced conversion too as the locals converted to Islam.
jerry glenn says
Their country their rules. But why oh why do we keep letting them into our country?
OLD GUY says
Oh when Oh when will the non-islamic people start attacking mosques and islamic followers as they attack us?
somehistory says
And in the U.S., in the state of OH, a Jew writes:
“My city says I need a license to pray with friends in my home. The Constitution says otherwise”
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/my-city-says-i-need-a-license-to-pray-with-friends-in-my-home-the-constitution-says-otherwise/ar-AA24Uz5m?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=6a22f2dd0b414fc2922a79aaeee4107b&ei=27
Andrew Blackadder says
muslimes sure live in fear of somebody talking about any other god but if they were so strong in their belief then what others think and practice in their religion should not matter, but we can see those who follow this Fascist Religious Cult of death, destruction and oppression are all shallow in their own convictions.
If you believe something different than what I believe about whether god is or isn’t or what he teaches should be a learning experience as once you tell me what you think and believe makes my own beliefs deepen.
I have always been wary of those who speak for God.