Islamic groups get house church shut down

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Several Islamic organizations have pressed officials in a subdistrict near Indonesia’s capital city to forbid Jakarta Christian Baptist Church to worship in a house, resulting in an order to cease worship.

The Islamic Defenders Front, the Betawi Forum group and political party Hizbut Tahrir have told officials in Sepatan subdistrict, Tangerang district, near Jakarta that worship activities cannot be conducted in a residence. The house belongs to Pastor Bedali Hulu. Both District Officer Ismet Iskandar and a subdistrict officer support the closure and have ordered Hulu to use his home only as a residence, the pastor said.

The subdistrict officer, who goes by the single name of Rusdy, has sent a notice ordering an end to all worship at the house. “But they have not put forth a solution,” Hulu said. “For a long time, we have suggested that we build a place of worship, but there has been no response from the local government.” Church members feel terrorized by mobs that have stopped services, the pastor said.