Release International

Islamist radicals are making life increasingly difficult for churches and Christian organisations across Indonesia, forcing many to close.

The latest reported closure came when about 60 demonstrators surrounded a church in the Riau province of Sumatra island last month and daubed 'Do not build without permit' in red paint on its walls.

The Love Evangelical Bethel Church, which was founded in 1980 and is the only church in Tangkerang Labuai village, is registered with the authorities. But it does not have a 'permit for expansion' – because locals had told its pastor they would have no objections to any building work. The pastor, Rev Alex Ritonga says none of the 14 mosques in the village has any such permit.

'We will be going to court if this case cannot be discussed between the church assembly and the demonstrators,' says Rev Ritonga.

Meanwhile, in Java, a gang of Islamist youths marched on the Indonesia Pentecostal Church Kalibaru in Tangerang, which also houses the church’s social ministry Harvest Community Development. The mob forcibly shut both church and ministry, citing legislation introduced in 2006 which makes it harder for small churches to obtain official permits.

Other churches, closed after extremist attacks last year, are keeping their doors firmly shut. Compass Direct cites three churches in Java raided in 2007 which have yet to reopen. In all three instances, their attackers justified their raids by accusing the congregation of not having the necessary permit.

* Pray for the congregations of the five churches whose closure is reported above. Pray they will find alternative places of worship, despite extremist threats.

* Pray that the authorities will review legislation which makes it nearly impossible for small churches to obtain official permits.

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