Indonesia: Large group of Muslims hold anti-Christian protest outside church

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – A large group of around 50 Muslims conducted an anti-Christian protest at a shophouse church in Depok City, Indonesia, last month, angrily shouting and pushing against the fence surrounding the building, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.

The protestors disrupted the Maranatha Chapel shophouse in the Gandul area of Cinere, Depok City, on September 16, ICC said. There was no service taking place, and the protestors eventually dispersed.

However, information about the protest was shared on social media, and several GBI Cinere congregants are concerned they may not be able to continue meeting at the shophouse, ICC reports. Accordingly, the congregation decided to meet online for a while instead.

Maranatha Chapel Pastor Didi S Natha told ICC that the church has applied for a permit to ensure it complies with legal requirements. “Please join ICC in praying for justice for the GBI Cinere congregation as well as for increased levels of tolerance for Christians in Indonesia,” ICC requested in its report.

In a website statement about the situation facing Christians in Indonesia, the Open Doors international Christian advocacy organization explains: “If a church is seen to be preaching and spreading the gospel, they soon run into opposition from Islamic extremist groups, especially in rural areas. In some regions of Indonesia, non-traditional churches struggle to get permission for church buildings, with the authorities often ignoring their paperwork.”

Christianity is legal under Indonesia’s constitution, but the Muslim-majority country ranks 33rd on the US Open Doors World Watch List 2023 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.

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