'Release partners say that churches operating under Sharia (Islamic law) in part of Aceh province have been given two weeks to disband or face forced closure.The authorities in Aceh Singkil district have given the blunt ultimatum to all local churches – and have closed at least 16 churches already this month. Our partners in Indonesia report that officials are claiming that these churches no longer have 'legal permission' to operate. Sharia or strict Islamic law was imposed in Aceh from 2001.
The churches affected appear to be small Protestant congregations – 12 of them from the Papak Dairin Protestant Christian Church. One of the churches, based in Mandupang village, had already been forced to meet outdoors in a palm plantation for months.
Meanwhile, in West Java, members of the Filadelfia Batak Protestant Union (HKBP) church in Tambun, Bekasi regency, were again barred from meeting yesterday. Hundreds of local protesters blocked roads leading to the church again yesterday – as they have done for months (Prayer Alert, May 9).
Bekasi officials closed down the HKBP church in 2010 – a decision overturned by a court ruling in 2011. However, the current regent of Tambun has ignored the court's decision. Local Christians hope that the new regent, Neneng Yasmin, due to be inaugurated today, will be more tolerant of minority groups.'
(Release International.)
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