Release International

Christians in West Java are taking a firm stand against extremist threats and refusing to give in to demands that they stop worshipping.

The congregation of the Batak Christian Protestant Church in Bekasi have declared publicly their intention to continue their weekly worship services on a plot of church-owned land in the Ciketing area, despite being attacked by extremists recently for the fifth time.

Hundreds of police turned out to protect the Batak congregation during Sunday worship on August 8 – but then reportedly offered little resistance when more than 300 members of hardline Islamist groups broke through the police cordon and attacked at least a dozen Christians.

The congregation has come under attack repeatedly since 2000 when they first started to build a church – a construction that was burnt down. Efforts to gain official permission to rebuild have so far failed. The church did, however, gain the approval of a senior local official to hold services in Ciketing in October 2009.

Interfaith tensions remain high in Bekasi. Islamist groups have reportedly joined forces to resist the 'Christianisation' of the city and urged mosques to set up their own 'paramilitary units' to enforce Sharia or Islamic law (Prayer Alert, June 30, 2010).

Hundreds of people, including many Christians, attended an interfaith rally in Jakarta last weekend to demand that the Government take a tougher line on Islamist extremists.

(Sources: Associated Press, Compass Direct, The Jakarta Globe)

• Thank God for the courage and determination of the Batak Christians in Bekasi. Ask God to protect them and build their faith.
• Pray that President Yudhoyono will heed calls for him to take a tougher stance on extremist activity.

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