Although Indonesia's constitution guarantees freedom of worship, praying at home is banned whilst churches are shut down by Muslim extremists. Forced to pray and worship in the streets, Christians are victims of harassment and intimidation.

Java (AsiaNews/ANS) – A group of Christian worshipers praying on a street was attacked on Sunday, October 16, in Jatimulya, East Bekasi, in West Java. The outdoor worship was the only option for these Christians since their church building had recently been forced to close.

In an e-mail message, one of the Christians said: "Christians came from three churches that were ordered closed by Jatimulya Mayor five weeks ago on the instigation of a radical Muslim group calling itself the Alliance against Apostasy."

"The constitution of Indonesia guarantees freedom of religion, but with their buildings closed and forbidden to meet for worship in private homes, Christians have had to gather in the streets each Sunday in order to worship together," the e-mail message lamented.

Last Sunday, Christians gathered at their usual spot on one street, but found that 300 Muslims had taken over the section. They moved elsewhere and began praying. However, they had been followed by a group of Muslim extremists who then started to insult and mock them, demanding they immediately stop their meeting. A female church leader was pushed and shoved until she fell. The Christians then decided to disperse and meet for prayer on the following day.

This incident of violence and intimidation is but the latest in a series of attacks against Indonesian Christians. Just on October 11 extremists broke into a house in western Jakarta to stop people from reciting the Rosary. Similarly, Muslim extremists have forced some 30 Protestant home churches to close.

• indonesia
• religious
• freedom
• christians
• islam
• muslims
• extremists
• violence
• intimidation