INDONESIA: LICENSE TO PREACH

Indonesia is the most populous Muslim nation in the world. Although the Indonesian constitution guarantees religious freedom, Islamist extremists have gained influence in the government. In the last two years, at least 59 churches have been attacked, burned or vandalised. The Ministry of Religious Affairs is now considering a bill that would further limit the ability of Christians to practise their faith. If enacted, the 'Religious Tolerance' law would regulate proselytism, religious holidays, funerals, religious education and the construction of places of worship.

Yasmin Indonesian Christian Church in Bogor City, West Java, has fought an ongoing battle with city officials over its right to exist, despite a Supreme Court order confirming the church's right to meet for worship. In 2002, the congregation of 150 believers collected 170 signatures from neighbours who approved construction of the church's new building on its recently purchased property.

Indonesian law requires the signatures of at least 60 local residents in support of any new place of worship. The mayor of Bogor granted a building permit for the church's new sanctuary on 13 July 2006. But the church was ordered to stop construction and move less than two months later, initiating a struggle between the church and city government that has continued for more than five years.

On 10 February 2007, after construction had begun and a roof was on the church, a Muslim mob opposed to the church held a demonstration in front of the provincial House of Representatives. Four days later, the church's building permit was revoked. The church filed legal complaints that progressed slowly through the judicial system. In 2009 and 2010, the higher courts and eventually the Indonesian Supreme Court sided with Yasmin church, and they resumed construction.

Under pressure from Islamist extremists, Mayor Diani Budiarto called for local authorities to keep the new church building closed despite the high court's ruling. Police posted a sign on a fence outside the church on 11 March 2010, reading 'disegel' ' sealed. Church members wrote letters to the police and local military notifying them that they intended to begin worship services on 11 April.

The day before the first service, police arrived at 5pm, cut the church's lock off the gate and replaced it with one of their own. Prevented from entering their new sanctuary, the congregation met for worship on a small strip of property along the road in front of their church. The congregation has been meeting outdoors for more than a year. 'When it looked like we would have rain on our church service, we used ropes, plastic tarps and bamboo poles,' one church member said. 'We would tie the big plastic tarps to the fence and run the ropes through the door handles of cars, making a big tent so we could worship. Then our photocopied hymn sheets would not get wet.'

Muslim organisations set up camp near the church and protested with banners expressing hatred and slander about the apostasy of Christians. 'The police said that they were there to protect us,' said a Yasmin church leader. 'But on the street they would try to disturb our communion service, pushing us and trying to grab the bread and wine, trying to scare us. Between the 150 of our congregation and the 70 Muslim demonstrators were 300 to 500 police and military personnel.

'Choirs from other churches in our area would come and sing in a show of love and support for us. Our own choir of 20 would also sing. When we began to sing, the mob on the other side of the police would become calm. When we stopped singing, they would again start chanting 'Allahu Akbar' ' Allah is great. 'After the Supreme Court agreed with our right to reopen and worship inside our building, the mob became even angrier,' a church leader said. 'Five times we had Sunday school there when we were sure the children would be safe. Hearing the mob shouting, the children would ask us, 'Why are those people making so much noise?' We would explain that because we are Christians they try to disturb us.

'All of these incidents are in the plan of God. In such times, here on the sidewalk, we can testify about Christ to the world and the policemen and the other officials who are there. We read in the Bible how Christians were persecuted, so we are not afraid or discouraged.'  

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