6/21/2023 Indonesia (International Christian Concern) ––A letter protesting the construction of a church in Sumberejo Village, East Java, is currently circulating on social media. The Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) of Sumberejo Village published the letter in January 2023.
NU is the largest Islamic religious organization in Indonesia, with over 40 million members, and is known for its pro-Islamic community activism. This activism often includes protesting the construction of non-Muslim houses of worship in communities across Indonesia.
In the letter, the organization stated that a church should not be built in Sumberejo Village so as to preserve the harmony, comfort, and safety of the community. It also asked the construction company to stop working.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for the Establishment of Houses of Worship in the Malang Regency FKUB, Moch Tri Waluyo, said that the NU posted the letter due to backlash from Islamic residents of Sumberjo Village.
In Muslim-majority Indonesia, it is common for non-Muslims to face obstacles as they seek to obtain building permits from the government. Even if they received the permit, local authorities often cave into hardline groups’ protests and demands, leading to the cancellation of their permits.
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