Indonesia: Authorities deny church construction despite congregation fulfilling all permit requirements

Image: Jihad Watch

SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – Local authorities in East Borneo Province, Indonesia, have denied approval for the construction of a church building despite the congregation meeting all necessary requirements for a permit, sources reported.

In Samarinda, the capital of East Borneo Province, the Samarinda Ministry of Religious Affairs Office declined to issue a letter of recommendation for Toraja Christian Church in Sungai Keledang, Samarinda Seberang Sub-District, despite the church fulfilling all administrative requirements for a license permit. The church has been seeking the permit for 10 years, according to the Indonesian Movement for All (Pergerakan Indonesia untuk Semua, PIS).

"Oh my God… How can people worship when we make it so difficult?" PIS wrote on its website. "What other reason does the Ministry of Religious Affairs have for withholding the letter of recommendation? It seems cowardly, doesn’t it? This injustice should not be allowed."

The congregation has spent a decade working on the application, collecting the names and ID cards of 90 individuals approved by local officials, as well as securing approval from 60 local residents and village heads. Last September, the church also gained recommendations from the local Interfaith Forum, according to PIS.

Hendra Kusuma, chairman of the East Kalimantan Alliance for Advocacy for Freedom of Religion and Belief, accused the government of succumbing to pressure from intolerant Muslim groups instead of upholding regulations, PIS reported.

“They fear a small group of people who oppose the church’s establishment, even though the state guarantees freedom of religion and worship,” Hendra told kaltimtoday.com.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)