INDONESIA: Muslims Prevent Christians from Worshipping

Source: International Christian Concern, Voice of the Martyrs Australia

Photo Source: International Christian Concern

For the second week in a row, a group of approximately 20 Muslims have again prevented the congregation of the Indonesian Bethel Church (GBI) in Gerendeng Pulo from holding a Sunday service.

Footage of the incident, which occurred on 21 September, shows a crowd of Muslim residents engaging in dialogue with the congregation under police supervision. The congregation also experienced a similar incident a week earlier, on 14 September, when they attempted to gather for worship. The worship location, they said, did not disrupt the activities of nearby residents.

Meanwhile, the church pastor, Rev Karundeng Gerung, explained that the church has been operating for 18 years in Neighbourhood Unit 9. However, since moving to Neighbourhood Unit 2, problems have arisen because the church failed to seek approval from local religious leaders.

“I’m tired,” Reverand Gerung said. “Every time we worship, people come to stop us.” He admitted to being in shock as his congregation had been prevented from attending worship services twice in the past month.

The congregation hopes that the government, from the neighbourhood association to the mayoral level, including security forces, will truly fulfil its responsibility to protect its citizens’ rights to worship safely. However, while the government does not normally persecute Christians, neither does it consistently defend them.

“The state must guarantee the constitutional right of the Gerendeng GBI congregation to worship,” a member of the congregation said in the video recording. “How long will the state ignore this?”

One of the legal foundations guaranteeing freedom of religion in Indonesia is Article 29 of the 1945 Constitution, which states that the state guarantees the freedom of every citizen to practise their own religion and worship according to their beliefs.

Pray for government to defend the religious rights of Believers in Indonesia.