1/24/2025 Indonesia (International Christian Concern) — Muslims in Palu City, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, recently called for authorities to reject the 2025 Palu Friendship Festival, planned for Jan. 30 to Feb. 2, citing a specific pastor’s scheduled appearance. Canadian Pastor Peter Youngren, who leads public faith healing events, will be a keynote speaker at the festival. 

Central Sulawesi’s Communion of Evangelical Churches and Institutions (PGLII) organized the festival. The Palu City Aqidah Guarding Alliance (AJA) represents Muslims protesting the event. 

An AJA representative stated that the promotion of the festival has been excessive and threatens religious tolerance in Central Sulawesi. Billboards promoting the event, which featured images of Muslim women, have been prominent throughout Palu City leading up to the festival.  

“We reject the implementation of the 2025 Palu Friendship Festival and request that the festival billboards that have been spread at various points in Palu City be immediately removed,” said Ari Fachri, action coordinator for AJA, during a demonstration in front of the Palu mayor’s office on Jan. 17.  

The AJA said Pastor Youngren, known to attract Muslims to his large faith healing events, claims that they can be healed with faith in Christ. This, protestors said, makes the pastor intolerant.  

“We ask the government to be more assertive in responding to similar activities in the future to maintain peace and harmony between religious communities,” said Ustad Hartono, another representative of the Muslim protesters. 

On Jan. 17 and 24, Islamic organizations conducted demonstrations to cancel this event. The Central Sulawesi Interfaith Harmony Forum (FKUB) has since suggested that Pastor Youngren’s activities occur in a closed place. 

To read more news stories, visit the ICC Newsroom. For interviews, please email press@persecution.org.