Persecution Watch

Indonesian authorities recently interrupted and forced a prayer service to end at the Indonesian Christian Church in Bogor.  The service was interrupted by at least 70 members of the Muslim Communication Forum Forkami and the Islamic Reform Movement Garis.

Claiming the Indonesian Christian Church lied on its application for a building permit, Diani Budiarti, Mayor of Bogor, closed the church.  Though his decision was overturned by the courts, the church has not yet been allowed to reopen.

The Jakarta Post reports that

The police that had been on guard around the house, about 1 kilometer from the disputed church building, did not stop the commotion until the church service ended at 9:30 a.m. The police later dispersed the radical groups, identified as Forkami and Garis, and evacuated the churchgoers.

“We have to use the house of a church member for the service … We have no where else to go to worship,” church spokesperson Bona Sigalingging said Sunday.

Since 2008, the congregation has not been allowed to worship in its church and has been forced to worship in homes.