![\"Al-Azhom](\"https:\/\/morningstarnews.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Al-Azhom-mosque-in-Banten-Province-Indonesia.-JahlilMA-Creative-Commons.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nAl-Azhom mosque in Banten Province, Indonesia. (JahlilMA, Creative Commons)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
SURABAYA<\/strong>, Indonesia <\/strong>(Morning Star News<\/a>) \u2013 Muslim residents objecting to house-church worship in western Indonesia on Sunday (March 17) compelled the pastor to discontinue using her home for services, sources said.<\/p>\n On the western tip of Java Island, dozens of Muslim residents gathered outside the house after worship ended in Saga Bunar, Balaraja Sub-District, Tangerang Regency, Banten Province, police said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Authorities said police arrived and dispersed the crowed, but video on X (formerly Twitter) shows police officers present among other people in a room while the pastor, identified only as Kinerinda, reads an agreement reached with local residents.<\/p>\n \u201cStarting from today, there will be no more religious services or worship services in the house I live in,\u201d Pastor Kinerinda says on the video, adding that she made the statement \u201cwithout any coercion from any party,\u201d a standard phrase in such agreements in Indonesia to prohibit members of minority faiths from later appealing in court.<\/p>\n Balaraja Police Chief Badri Hasan said the crowd gathered around the house after the service objecting to its use as a place of worship, according to detiknews.com.<\/p>\n \u201cAccording to residents, this is because there has been no approval or permission to build a place of worship,\u201d Hasan said, according to the news outlet. \u201cResidents have protested. As far as I know, this is the first time.\u201d<\/p>\n Saying the homeowner had used her home for worship services for a year, Badri said police referred the conflict to the \u201crelevant stakeholders\u201d \u2013 presumably the local city and religious leaders \u2013 to resolve the issue.<\/p>\n Bonar Tigor Naipospos, deputy chairman of the Setara Institute for Peace and Democracy, said holding worship at a house is explicitly permitted in Indonesia\u2019s Join Ministerial Decree of 2006, which requires a permit only for a venue constructed as a permanent worship site.<\/p>\n \u201cThe problem is that those who are intolerant always think that when Christians gather to worship, it is something that violates the rules \u2013 that worshiping together must be in a house of worship or church,\u201d Naipospos told Morning Star News.<\/p>\n Private worship is legal in Indonesia, but many people consider the \u201cprivate sphere\u201d as only the five daily prayers in Islam, he said.<\/p>\n Indonesia ranked 42nd<\/sup>\u00a0on Open Doors\u2019 2024 World Watch List of the 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n If you would like to help persecuted Christians, visit\u00a0<\/em>https:\/\/morningstarnews.org\/resources\/aid-agencies\/<\/em><\/a>\u00a0for a list of organizations that can orient you on how to get involved. \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n If you or your organization would like to help enable Morning Star News to continue raising awareness of persecuted Christians worldwide with original-content reporting, please consider collaborating at\u00a0<\/em>https:\/\/morningstarnews.org\/donate\/<\/em><\/a>?<\/em><\/p>\n ###<\/p>\n \u00a9 2024 Morning Star News. Articles\/photos may be reprinted with credit to Morning Star News.\u00a0<\/em>https:\/\/morningstarnews.org<\/em><\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Tweet:\u00a0<\/em>https:\/\/twitter.com\/morningstarnewz\/<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Facebook:\u00a0<\/em>https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MorningStarNews<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Morning Star News is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that relies solely on contributions to offer original news reports of persecuted Christians. By providing reliable news on the suffering church, Morning Star News\u2019 mission is to empower those in the free world to help and to encourage persecuted Christians that they are not forgotten or alone. For free subscription, contact\u00a0<\/em>editor@morningstarnews.org<\/em><\/a>;\u00a0to make tax-deductible donations, visit\u00a0<\/em>https:\/\/morningstarnews.org\/donate\/<\/em><\/a>? or send check to Morning Star News, 728 A Kodiak St., Eielson AFB, AK 99702, USA.<\/em><\/p>\n The post Muslims in Indonesia End Church\u2019s Meetings in Home<\/a> appeared first on Morningstar News<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n