Reconstruction banned as religious fanaticism rises against church in Indonesia

Religious bigotry and the demand for religious exclusivity in Indonesia led to protests against the church's reconstruction and closure.

Recent protests against the reconstruction of a Catholic church in Indonesia have once again raised serious questions about the country's commitment to freedom of religion and the rights of religious minorities, an event that many observers see as not a simple administrative dispute but a sign of deepening religious intolerance and increasing pressure on Christians in the world's largest Muslim-majority country.

In West Java province, a group of Muslims held a demonstration in Telajong Udik village, Gunung Puteri district, Bogor province, demanding the closure of the St. Vincent A. Paulo Catholic Church. The protesters claim that the renovation of the church lacks legal permission, a claim that is not consistent with official documents and statements by government officials.

According to local media reports, the Islamic Empowerment and Development Organization called for the demolition of the church on December 6. During the rally, demonstrators held placards with the slogan “Close and demolish illegal churches,” a slogan that many saw as clearly going beyond a legal protest and carrying a hostile message against the presence of Christians in the region.

Anhari Soltani, a spokesperson for this Islamic organization, claimed in an interview with the media that the construction of the church was carried out about 25 years ago without sufficient coordination with the local community, and for this reason, the current renovations should be stopped. This is while official authorities present a different narrative.

In response to these protests, Ahmad Sejokeri, head of the Bogor Regional Religious Affairs Office, expressed regret over the demonstration and confirmed that the church's permit was issued at the November 17 meeting of the Bogor Regional National and Political Unity Board. According to him, even representatives of radical Muslim movements were present at the same meeting and the permit issuance process was carried out legally.

On the other hand, "Ciprianus Edi Hardum", the lawyer for the St. Vincentius A. Paulo Church, denied the claims made by the protesters, saying: "This church has an official license issued on December 21, 2000." The official website of the Bogor Diocese also stated that the church has been operating since 2001 with the support of part of the local community and currently has more than 1,800 members.

What makes this case even more worrying is that it is placed in the broader context of the double standard of extremist Islamist movements around the world. Critics say that while Muslims in many countries around the world freely build their own mosques, Islamic centers and religious symbols and enjoy legal rights to worship, in Muslim-majority countries Christians often face opposition, threats and social pressure even to preserve or rebuild their old churches.

Numerous international reports show that in some regions, exclusivist readings of Islam operate as if the presence of other religions is intolerable and that society should be defined solely on the basis of the religious identity of the majority. This mentality has in some cases led to the destruction of churches, restrictions on Christian worship, and even violence against religious minorities.

Open Doors International has also warned that Indonesia has moved towards a more conservative and less tolerant Islam in recent years, a trend that has made churches, especially those that are active or growing, more vulnerable than before. In such an environment, laws and administrative requirements sometimes become not tools for social order, but excuses for restricting the religious freedom of minorities.

The case of St. Vincent A. Paul Church has now become a symbol of a fundamental question: "Is religious freedom in Indonesia a universal right, or a privilege that is defined only within the framework of the will of the majority?"