ICC Note:

Three churches in Indonesia have been banned by government authorities, the same government which guarantees their freedom of religion. They were told they cannot meet because the government “cannot guarantee their safety.” The announcement was made following threats by radical Muslim groups to close or destroy the churches. Indonesia is the world’s most populous Muslim nation. Although Christians technically have a right to worship freely, a lack of political will to protect religious freedoms means radical Muslims often get to dictate local policy and practices more than the actual law. In some cases which ICC has dealt with, the Indonesian police force that was meant to protect congregations and churches has assisted in closing down or threatening those same churches.

3/21/2017 Indonesia (UCA News) – Indonesian authorities in Bogor, West Java have banned three churches from holding religious activities.

The churches were the Methodist Church Indonesia, Huria Batak Protestant Church and Catholics, who were using a house for catechism.

Bogor district chief, Nurhayanti told media that the churches were banned from holding services because the government cannot guarantee their safety.

The move follows what church representatives said were acts of intimidation last week in which a radical Muslim group called Group 11 staged marches demanding the churches and the house be closed.

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