BANDUNG, Indonesia — Christians have won a court battle restoring the right to worship in their building in Depok city, West Java. Depok Mayor Nur Mahmudi Ismail had revoked the building permit for a multipurpose building and house of worship for Gereja Huria Kristen Batak Protestan church March 27 following protests by Muslims.
On Sept. 17, a court in Bandung rescinded the order that revoked the church building permit, paving the way for congregants to resume worship there. Head Judge A. Syaifullah read the decision of the three-judge panel, which found the mayor’s reasoning for canceling the building permit inadequate. The mayor had said that most people living near the church objected to its building in the Cinere area of Depok city.
“These objections by the local residents should have been raised when the building permit was going through the approval process, not protesting afterwards,” said Syaifullah.
He added that the mayor also should have taken the views of church members into consideration.
“In this case, the revocation of the building permit was based upon the objections of one group in the community without considering those from the church,” he said.
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