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| Muslim with machete, clubs halts Worship in Indonesia |
In a troubling incident that unfolded on the evening of August 29, members of the Sola Gratia congregation of Bethel Indonesia Church (Gereja Bethel Indonesia, or GBI) in West Sumatra Province, Indonesia, faced a distressing interruption during their worship service. The congregation had gathered in a rented house on Jalan Banuaran, Banuaran Nan XX village, Lubuk Begalung Sub-District, in Padang, when their worship was halted abruptly.
The disruption began when a Muslim woman, claiming ownership of the house, initiated the disturbance by hurling stones at the church's windows. She insisted that the worshipers cease their activities in the house. Pastor Hiatani Ziduhu Hia, who was present during the incident, reported that this interruption occurred at approximately 8:35 p.m.
As if the initial disturbance wasn't alarming enough, matters escalated when the woman's husband arrived at the scene, armed with a machete, and was accompanied by another man wielding a wooden club. The man with the machete menacingly threatened the congregation, shouting that he would harm them, demanding that they immediately stop worshiping.
Incredibly, despite the threats and disruption, the congregation, led by Pastor Hiatani, maintained their composure and continued to pray. They also tried to explain the situation to the aggressors, emphasizing that they had rented the house for their worship services and that the real owner was someone else entirely. The local neighborhood's head was aware of their activities, and they were not violating any terms of their rental agreement.
The situation took a further concerning turn when it was revealed that the woman, who initiated the disruption, was related to the landlord. She persistently argued that the church had no right to worship in "her home." However, as Pastor Hiatani clarified, they paid rent to someone else, and their activities were conducted in accordance with the terms set by the actual landlord.
Juni Anton Zai, the tenant of the house, described the distressing events as approximately 20 congregation members were in the midst of their worship service. The congregation was stunned as they heard the woman's shouts and witnessed her breaking windows from the backyard. In response to the escalating situation, Juni and the other worshipers fled the premises in fear for their safety.
Later, the woman, her husband, and two younger siblings returned to the scene. The husband reiterated that they couldn't worship in the house because it belonged to their parents. Juni offered to engage in a calm discussion to resolve the matter peacefully, but the aggressors refused, instead opting to threaten the congregation further. The younger brother, who had a machete, added to the atmosphere of fear, and even attempted to harm Juni's younger brother.
A video of this harrowing attack was shared on social media platforms, where the assailants asserted their supposed entitlement to the house and their right to scrutinize the tenants' activities.
Juni's attorney, Yutiasa Fakho, representing the Community Legal Defense Team, took the matter to the police, asserting that the assailants had committed various criminal acts, including threats with sharp weapons, vandalism, and human rights violations. However, the police response left much to be desired. They dismissed the incident as a mere "misunderstanding" related to "neighborhood ethics" and attributed the aggressor's behavior to supposed "mental disorders."
This response drew sharp criticism from multiple quarters, with the West Sumatra Inter-Religious Harmony Forum (Forum Komunikasi Umat Beragama, or FKUB) echoing the police's stance. They suggested a resolution "with local wisdom." In stark contrast, the Setara Institute's executive director, Halili Hasan, accused authorities and the FKUB of "ignoring" justice, emphasizing that the Christians' right to freedom of worship had been violated.
According to Hasan, "The most dangerous thing is if law enforcement does not occur; it means there is neglect. This incident will happen again if there is no fair law enforcement."
Notably, Padang city, where this incident occurred, has been identified as the third most intolerant city in Indonesia, according to a 2022 Setara Institute report.
The Communion of Christian Churches (Persatuan Gereja Indonesia, or PGI) swiftly condemned the attack. Pastor Henrek Lekra, executive secretary of PGI's Justice and Peace unit, voiced strong condemnation for the "anarchist actions in disbanding Christian family worship which has led to death threats." He asserted that such actions contradicted the constitution's mandate and insulted the values of any religion that prioritizes love, justice, and peace.
PGI called on the police to take immediate and decisive action against the aggressor who had issued death threats to prevent any potential recurrence and societal unrest. Additionally, they advocated for a process of deliberation, dialogue, and prosecution of criminal acts, emphasizing that the mediation should not subject the victim to intimidation.
President Joko Widodo, speaking at the 2023 International Sufi Congress in Pekalongan, Central Java, acknowledged the ongoing challenges of intolerance in Indonesia, despite efforts to promote harmony in diversity. While emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace in Indonesia and the world, he acknowledged the existence of several cases of intolerance that require attention.
Indonesia's ranking as 33rd on the Christian support organization Open Doors' 2023 World Watch List highlights the difficulties faced by Christians in the country. The report underscores the challenges faced by churches engaged in evangelistic outreach, especially in rural areas, where they often encounter opposition from Islamic extremist groups. In some regions, non-traditional churches struggle to obtain permission for church buildings, with authorities frequently disregarding their paperwork.
