Ar-Rahman Mosque, Pekanbaru, Riau Province, Indonesia. (D.W. Fisher-Freberg, Inventive Commons)
SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star Information) – Dozens of Muslim residents backed by police and a sub-district official on March 1 pressured a halt to a church’s roof repairs.
The group demanded prior approval from space Muslims for repairs on the worship constructing of the Batak Protestant Christian Church (Huria Kristen Batak Protestant, HKBP) in Kulim Jaya village, Lubuk Batu Jaya Sub-District, Indragiri Hulu Regency, Riau Province, Sumatra island.
The incident highlights frequent tensions over non secular freedom in Indonesia, the place church renovations usually set off neighborhood objections even for legally registered websites.
At the very least 20 of the 70 Muslims forcefully entered the HKBP church constructing the place roof repairs have been underway, together with native police and the sub-district head, asserting the repairs might solely proceed if the church obtained a allow.
A video circulating on-line exhibits one of many Muslim opponents stating that they aren’t forbidding worship, however that with out permission for repairs, residents would oppose the church. A Christian lady responds, “We’re repairing the roof as a result of our church is leaking. If it’s not repaired, the place will we worship?”
The pinnacle of Lubuk Batu Raya Sub-District, recognized solely as Armin, informed Riauonline that the opposition on the HKBP church was not a raid. He mentioned there was mediation between residents and the church in 2024 and, as HKBP had not obtained permission when repairs resumed in February, the village head and neighborhood leaders requested help from the police chief to inquire concerning the permits.
“Basically, residents simply need the allow paperwork to be accessible and proven to the neighborhood earlier than the church is repaired,” he reportedly mentioned.
HKBP leaders have reportedly not utilized for the restore permits as the location is in the midst of a palm plantation removed from the inhabitants. Mediation conferences between the church, the sub-district Interfaith Cooperation Discussion board and residents have been ongoing.
Church Pastor Faber Manurung mentioned in a press assertion that since building in 1995, the wood church constructing has suffered extreme injury and was not protected.
“The church’s planks have been rotten and crumbling, the roof leaking, and it was fully unsuitable and uncomfortable for worship,” he mentioned. “We determined in February of this yr to renovate the HKBP Kulim Jaya constructing.”
The church is formally registered with the Indonesian Ministry of Spiritual Affairs with all authorized paperwork. Leaders have tried to renovate it since 2010, however space residents have prevented it.
The Central Management Council of the Indonesian Christian Youth Motion condemned the actions of Muslims who blocked the church repairs.
“We remorse that these actions result in coercion and intimidation of church members who’re merely exercising their proper to worship in keeping with their non secular beliefs,” mentioned Sahat Sinurat, chairman of the Central Govt Board of GAMKI, in keeping with gamkri.or.id.
The Indonesia for All Motion (PIS), a Democracy advocacy group, said in a TikTok video on March 3 that violations of non secular freedom are recurring.
“And the sample is identical,” PIS’s Rizka Putri Abner said. “When church buildings wish to construct or restore their church buildings, the justifications normally relate to permits and neighborhood approval. And in follow, the issues are lengthy and tedious, regardless that the structure ensures non secular worship.”
The Setara Institute of Democracy and Peace discovered 260 circumstances of violations of non secular freedom in 2025 and 402 circumstances in 2024, Rizka mentioned. The Fee for Lacking Individuals and Victims of Violence (Kontras), a human rights group, discovered 260 incidents and 42 acts of violation from December 2024 to November 2025; the Neutral, one other human rights group, discovered 13 circumstances from December 2024 to July 2025; and the Coalition for Advocacy for Freedom of Faith and Perception discovered 183 circumstances in 2025, he mentioned.
Fritz Meko, a motivational speaker and political observer, mentioned the opposition can’t be generalized as a rejection by the area people of the church’s existence.
“Sure [Muslim] mass organizations are allegedly signalling the rise of the right-wing, with explicit ideologies that place themselves at odds with moderates and even the state,” he mentioned.
Indonesian society lately has adopted a extra conservative Islamic character, and church buildings concerned in evangelistic outreach are prone to being focused by Islamic extremist teams, in keeping with Open Doorways.
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