Indonesian Christian open air service attacked by angry Muslims
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Pastor Dale Morgan
Aug 7, 2010, 5:29:24 AM8/7/10
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Faith Under Fire........
Indonesian Christian open air service attacked by angry Muslims
Posted On August 6, 2010 @ 3:24 pm
Compass Direct
About 300 Muslims and 300 police surrounded recently the members of a Christian church menacingly while they held their Sunday service in an open field.
The Muslims surrounded the congregation of Batak Christian Protestant Church in a field in Ciketing, Bekasi despite the presence of some 300 police who were supposed to “protect” them. One Muslim attacker got through the police cordon and hit Rev. Luspida Simanjuntak on the cheek, Compass Direct News said.
Theophilus Bela, president of the Jakarta Christian Communication Forum said, “There were many police on guard, but the attackers were able to get very close to the congregation. We are afraid that they will attack the church again next Sunday,” CDN said.
The attacker, Murhali Barda, is the leader of the Front Pembela Islam in Bekasi. According to police commander Imam Sugianto, the police were there for the protection of both sides, CDN said.
Sugianto also said the Christians cannot worship in the open field without official permission. However, Simanjuntak said the church already had official approval to meet in the field, CDN said.
Simanjuntak asked the Bekasi administration to inform the public that the Christians have permission to pray in the field, CDN said.
The Batak Christian Protestant Church has a congregation of 1500 churchgoers. Fifteen years before, they regularly met in a house for worship. They filed a building permit application to local officials in 2006, CDN said.
Because Muslim leaders objected to the prayer meetings, officials banned the Christians from holding worship services there. Knowing that their application was pending, the Christians continued to meet. Local officials responded by sealing the church on June 20, CDN said.
On July 9, Bekasi Mayor Mochtar Mohammad said the congregation could meet in public areas. Simanjuntak chose the field in Ciketing, where the melee ensued. Since then, Simanjuntak has filed a suit against the Bekasi administration, CDN said.
Simanjuntak also said the church will still continue to hold their worship services in the open field because they have no other place to go, CDN said.
Barda, the Muslim who attacked the woman reverend, said it was an act of provocation for the Christians to worship in the open field. He also said Christians are trying to convert Muslims. To prove his point Barda cited an internet report that alleged a local Christian charity, the Mahanaim Foundation, recently conducted a mass baptism, CDN said.
Marya Irawan of the Foundation said there was no baptism and the group was only invited to the home of their leader Henry Sutanto in relation to their outreach program for the poor, CDN said.
Previously on June 20 and 27 Islamic hardliners held a congress where they decided to unite against the “Christianization” in their region. Indonesia’s Institute for Peace and Democracy said that misleading stories have abounded about Christians supposedly badgering Muslims to convert with the use of food, money and other incentives, CDN said.
Indonesian Christian open air service attacked by angry Muslims
Posted On August 6, 2010 @ 3:24 pm
Compass Direct
About 300 Muslims and 300 police surrounded recently the members of a Christian church menacingly while they held their Sunday service in an open field.
The Muslims surrounded the congregation of Batak Christian Protestant Church in a field in Ciketing, Bekasi despite the presence of some 300 police who were supposed to “protect” them. One Muslim attacker got through the police cordon and hit Rev. Luspida Simanjuntak on the cheek, Compass Direct News said.
Theophilus Bela, president of the Jakarta Christian Communication Forum said, “There were many police on guard, but the attackers were able to get very close to the congregation. We are afraid that they will attack the church again next Sunday,” CDN said.
The attacker, Murhali Barda, is the leader of the Front Pembela Islam in Bekasi. According to police commander Imam Sugianto, the police were there for the protection of both sides, CDN said.
Sugianto also said the Christians cannot worship in the open field without official permission. However, Simanjuntak said the church already had official approval to meet in the field, CDN said.
Simanjuntak asked the Bekasi administration to inform the public that the Christians have permission to pray in the field, CDN said.
The Batak Christian Protestant Church has a congregation of 1500 churchgoers. Fifteen years before, they regularly met in a house for worship. They filed a building permit application to local officials in 2006, CDN said.
Because Muslim leaders objected to the prayer meetings, officials banned the Christians from holding worship services there. Knowing that their application was pending, the Christians continued to meet. Local officials responded by sealing the church on June 20, CDN said.
On July 9, Bekasi Mayor Mochtar Mohammad said the congregation could meet in public areas. Simanjuntak chose the field in Ciketing, where the melee ensued. Since then, Simanjuntak has filed a suit against the Bekasi administration, CDN said.
Simanjuntak also said the church will still continue to hold their worship services in the open field because they have no other place to go, CDN said.
Barda, the Muslim who attacked the woman reverend, said it was an act of provocation for the Christians to worship in the open field. He also said Christians are trying to convert Muslims. To prove his point Barda cited an internet report that alleged a local Christian charity, the Mahanaim Foundation, recently conducted a mass baptism, CDN said.
Marya Irawan of the Foundation said there was no baptism and the group was only invited to the home of their leader Henry Sutanto in relation to their outreach program for the poor, CDN said.
Previously on June 20 and 27 Islamic hardliners held a congress where they decided to unite against the “Christianization” in their region. Indonesia’s Institute for Peace and Democracy said that misleading stories have abounded about Christians supposedly badgering Muslims to convert with the use of food, money and other incentives, CDN said.
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