A church in East Java, Indonesia, the Protestant Church in Western Indonesia (GPIB) Benowo, has again experienced discrimination from a local Islamic group.

In May 2024, residents of a housing complex in Cerme, Gresik, broke up a GPIB service.

Earlier this month, banners were posted, rejecting the construction of a building in the Dreaming Land Benowo housing complex in Surabaya. The banners are from Muslim individuals claiming to be the local neighborhood association.

The white banners intimidate GPIB Benowo, urging the church not to proceed with the construction of a dormitory intended for church guests, student interns, and church leaders.

The objection, the organization explained, is based on agreements between residents of RT/RW 5/13 of the housing complex and the GPIB Benowo dormitory management. The Anti-Discrimination Islamic Network (JIAD) deplores the rejection. This action, it stated, clearly constitutes discrimination based on irrational, religious hatred.

Claims of an “agreement” should not eliminate a person’s fundamental right to reside in a region safely and freely, unless proven to have caused public disturbance.

From the Islamic perspective of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), according to JIAD, guests must be respected and well-served. This is especially true if they are part of a house of worship. Similar treatment also applies to students and aspiring pastors.

JIAD urges the mayor of Surabaya to intervene to resolve this issue fairly. The mayor must evaluate the housing complex to prevent it from becoming a religiously based housing complex that is intolerant of other faiths.

JIAD notes that the rejection of the church construction adds to the long list of religion-based discrimination in East Java.

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