Indonesia (International Christian Concern) — About 20 Muslims again prevented the congregation of the Indonesian Bethel Church (GBI) in Gerendeng Pulo, Karawaci District, Tangerang City, Indonesia, from holding a Sunday morning service.  

Footage of the incident, which occurred on Sept. 21, shows a crowd of Muslim residents engaging in dialogue with the congregation under police supervision. The footage is on social media. 

This is not the first such occurrence. On Sunday, Sept. 14, the GBI Gerendeng congregation experienced a similar incident when they attempted to worship on the second floor of a shophouse on Jl. Otista, Gerendeng Village. The worship location, they said, did not disrupt the activities of nearby residents. 

Meanwhile, the pastor of GBI Gerendeng Pulo, Rev. Karundeng Gerung, explained that the church has been operating for 18 years in neighborhood unit (RW) 9. However, since moving to a shophouse in neighborhood unit (RW) 2, problems have arisen because the church failed to seek approval from local religious leaders. 

He admitted to being in shock as his congregation had been prevented from attending twice in the past month. 

“I’m tired,” Rev. Gerung said. “Every time we worship, people come to stop us.” 

The congregation hopes that the government, from the neighborhood association (RT) to the mayoral level, including security forces, will truly fulfill its responsibility to protect its citizens’ rights to worship safely. 

“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 practice their own religion and worship according to their beliefs. 

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