Bandung Church Attack
Sep 25th, 2006, in News, by PatungA house-church near Bandung was attacked by a mob but police stepped in.
The report of the attack was to be found in the Jakarta Post newspaper which began the story:
The suppression of religious freedom in this predominantly Muslim nation continues in West Java, where dozens of churches and places of worship have been forcibly closed by Muslim extremists over the past year.
The house-church was located in Cibintinu kampung, Arjasari village, about twenty kilometres south of Bandung, and the attack on it was led by such groups as the Anti-Apostasy Division (DAP) of the Islamic Ulema Forum (FUUI) led by Suryana Nur Fatwama. About fifty men gathered together at a nearby mosque and thence headed towards the church at around 9.00am on Saturday 23rd September.
Upon arriving at the church, called Yayasan Penginjilan Roti Kehidupan, the Bread of Life Mission, they spoke to church administrator Ibu Eri and demanded that she cease holding services in the house. She refused and the mob began attempting to dismantle the building, starting with the roof.
Ten policemen then arrived and ordered the men to stop and leave. Bandung Police chief Adjutant Senior Commander Suparman later said that non-government bodies or individuals had no right to shut down any place of worship. He is reported to have said:
We ask all of you to be patient. Anybody who tries to touch this building will be arrested.
The mob dispersed but threatened that they would return to the scene if the church continued holding services.
Apparently services began being held in the house about two weeks ago, one year after the church had been shut down by local people, and were attended by seven people, two of whom were residents of the kampung and recent converts to Christianity.
Faidin, a village official said:
We are disturbed by their presence and worried if they spread their teachings among local residents, who are nearly 100 percent Muslim.
25 Comments on “Bandung Church Attack”
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Molisan Tono says:
Wait till you see Manado mosque attack, and their reaction…
Blinded eyes for church attack, and wide open eyes for mosque attack? What a religious cover for a racist act.
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Miss Indo 07 says:
yep, that’s what always happens, and is still happening, but anyway, I hope there won’t be any mosque attacks anywhere, we must show them the difference between love and hatred, emotion and logic.
Besides, I’m too tired to hear about such news again. ;( -
Mohammed Khafi says:
Why do these people not follow what God has given them?:
“Allah forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you not for (your) Faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: for Allah loveth those who are just.” 60:8
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Bradlymail says:
Another action by the animals!
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Sorry for using sarcastic words! I cound not control my emotions any more. Why SBY government does not want to crackdown on all radical/extremist organisations in this country….seem like , you got no power…you better step down.
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That’s what all those Moslem extrimist wanted from the beginning, they made government seems so lame, so maybe next time they can coup the government from behind with all their stupid ideology of Islam (or sounds like it).
Best way is, next election, no more lame government on role. They better stay behind if can’t defend minority.
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I think it would be wise for these people to realise how The Prophet dealt with Christians, this is a Charter of Privileges to the Monks of St. Catherine who lived in a monastery on Mount Sinai (Jabl Musa). The Charter reads:
This is a message from Muhammad ibn Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them. Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens; and by Allah! I hold out against anything that displeases them. No compulsion is to be on them. Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries. No one is to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslims’ houses. Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God’s covenant and disobey His Prophet. Verily, they are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they hate. No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight. The Muslims are to fight for them. If a female Christian is married to a Muslim, it is not to take place without her approval. She is not to be prevented from visiting her church to pray. Their churches are to be respected. They are neither to be prevented from repairing them nor the sacredness of their covenants. No one of the nation (Muslims) is to disobey the covenant till the Last Day (end of the world).
As one can see, this Charter consisted of several clauses covering all important aspects of human rights including such topics as the protection of minorities living under Islamic rule, freedom of worship and movement, freedom to appoint their own judges and to own and maintain their property, exemption from military service, and the right to protection in war.
The Charter was issued more than thirteen centuries before the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was promulgated in 1948.
Still, who can stop the merchants of hatred from spreading their lies!
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Andrew says:
In this diverse world, it is VERY comforting to know that someone still has a wide-open mind, objectivity, and wisdom.
Khafi, my respect to you.
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Mohammed Khafi I salute you! I hope the munafik people can read your comment…thank you.
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The only word I can say now, Khafi, God Bless you and your whole family member.
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Dhita says:
When the Catholics built Lembah Carmel (Carmel valley) so vast in Cisarua, Muslim dominated region, why no one concluded it as tolerance in Indonesian’s Muslim?
When they built a church with a big cross showing in the sky in Bogor, nobody sees it as an act of tolerance from Muslim.
My wife’s house in Bandung located near a church where almost none of the member live around the neigbourhood (which is Moslem neighbourhood). And no one seems to notice that it is tolerance.
In Jakarta you can find a church next to a mosque in Slipi. Not a stone ever thrown to it.
People think that a house converted to a church without neighbour permission is illegal. And so they attack it. I’m really against it. But you must convey these facts.
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Marsel says:
I was really like Gus Dur, Aa Gym, and those “real” Moslem thinker.
and I think you are one of them, Khafi.I wonder what behind the church closing, attacking, or combustion.
If it’s all about other religious law… No religion suggest that kind of “violence”, and we are not a country based on religion,we follow Indonesia rule.
If it’s all about politics, what’s the purpose.
Maybe it’s about how low the education level of Indonesian, so we are get easily provoked, and we receive all the information given to us without any filter.
Any idea?? -
yeah, marsel, we can go back to stone age… since many Moslem like to stoned “illegal” church.
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Marsel,
You raise a very good point. What is the purpose? If we look back through history, religion when it has been abused and has deviated from it’s true path has been invariably for power, it has given those who pull the strings power over the ordinary working people. I am not so sure that it is that simple in Indonesia.
We live in an exceedingly rich county, one of abundant natural resources, be it mineral, agricultural or human, but where does it show in the living standards of the people? Our country has been constantly raped by the greedy and powerful for generations, it was not just the colonisers or foreign powers, it has been done by our own people! I believe that the examples of religious intolerance which we see are orchestrated by these people, to distract attention from their evil actions. We all know that the majority of people of this country will do practically anything for money without looking at the consequences for either themselves or for their neighbours or their country, this is amply demonstrated in money politics.
We need a complete shift in our teaching of morals, and social skills, we need to make people aware of and responsible for their actions, and above all we need clean laws and governance which are applicable to all sectors of society fairly and equally, without regard to wealth, religion, or origin.
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I personally encourage, inter-faith dialogue in Indonesia. But I am sure some other elements will oppose this? Look at Singapore, their government encourages inter-faith dicussion/dialogue among it’s people. Recently Majelis Ulama Islam Singapore and USA’s bible college have a exchange programme for their students to learn Islam or vice versa.This is to strengthen better understanding, communication and harmony. I think we should learn from them. But I know, it’s hard to be happened in this country.
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Brad, inter-faith dialogue is way too old issue here in Indonesia.
It’s not cannot happen, it has done many time before but still there’s no chance to survive with that distances between both people. Believe me, Indonesia Moslem are way too holy, so other believers are just like mosquitos. Moslems here think this is Moslem country and Christian has no right to be exist and defend their faith, so actually both are fighting to keep alive and dominate.
Now the question is, is it wrong if Christian stand and fight for their existances?
If Moslems majority state their mind to stand against our existance, than it’s mean Christian is illegal, contradictive with what most people believe this country ideology of Pancasila.
Now you my fellow outside Indonesia, both Moslem and Christian, you tell me, what we must do to settle down such long battle since dialogue nor reconciliation is not an option anymore.
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Molisan Tono,
Dhita raised a good point with her observations, there are many examples of religious tolerance in this country. Why do they not get the same high profile media coverage as the disagreements? Is it because they don’t make money for the media, is it because they don’t strengthen one parties position over another?
The moderate, tolerant, caring members of the community seem to have a very small voice, when compared with the bigots, who have no shame in breaking the law to make their point, unfortunately with the totally ineffective and corrupt law and judiciary which we have, they will continue to break the law as there are no real sanctions being carried out against them to stop them.
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Molisan Tono@ yeah,i know it’s very hard to achive solidarity among our people.The leaders of Muslim moderate must speak up…this what Gus dur wants to promote Pluralism in Indonesia and protect the minorities in Indonesia.Indonesia government,must play key role to control or to ban the radical Muslim organisations.Mass medias also must involve to inter-faith harmony and no bias or favourism while reporting certain issue. Remember you all are INDONESIAN regardless of race or religion to achive hapiness and equality…please do not give up for Peace.
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SundRamoorthy says:
Sup Brad, interesting you mentioned Gus Dur. He is a really nice guy. I have met Gus dur before. And this is what he said to me. If Indonesia wants to cease the fanatics and terrorists in the country, the ruling party must throw out the terrorist and fanatics within the cabinet. He was referring to a very very high ranking official. And he is NOT SBY… any views on this?
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Sundramoorthy,
It wouldn’t be somebody who draughted the anti porno and pornoaksi law, who wants non Muslims tried in Aceh under sharia law rather than civil law. Who has tried to destroy the predominantly Hindu Island of Balis’s tourist trade by introducing visa fees and reducing the length of time of the visa’s. Who is a former member of the Central Executive Board of Dewan Dakwah Islamiyah, which using petrodollars supplied from the Saudi Government through the Islamic Preaching Fund for the promotion of Wahaabiism sponsors his political party. A person who was closely involved in the recent execution of Cornelius Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus da Silva, and Marinus Riwu.
And who’s political party polled less than 3% of the national vote at the last general elections?
p.s.
Don’t forget that DDI also recently demonstrated a growing influence in MUI, that issued in July 2005 a few fatwas that banned liberal interpretations of Islam, declared liberalism and pluralism as forbidden and also condemned inter-faith prayers and marriages between religions. -
agree khafi,
there are many tolerance because lembah carmel is legal… we are talking about “illegal”… many “illegal” church is close down because they have got difficulty in permit, and you tell me how many “illegal” mosque is close down for that same reason? none…khafi, everybody knew that Islam is majority religion in Indonesia, but never before i heard Islam is ruling over this nation law with such close down action. so, my focus is about how tolerance you can show to your neighbour who has opposite belief from you. will you close your eyes for their belief achievement? that’s what I call tolerance…
in my bible, there’s a good quote from Jesus
Luke 6:33 “And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.” -
Molisan Tono
“……. Our Lord is Allah. And had there not been Allah’s repelling some people by others, certainly there would have been pulled down cloisters and churches and synagogues and mosques in which Allah’s name is much remembered; and surely Allah will help him who helps His cause; most surely Allah is Strong, Mighty.”
If Allah/God says that his name is remembered in cloisters and churches and synagogues and mosques, then who am I to disbelieve him?
Unfortunately most of the Muslim Ummah are not taught verses such as these, they don’t know them themselves because although they can read Arabic they don’t understand what the words mean, they just quite literally make the sounds!
Most of our Islamic religious leaders in this country are self appointed bigots who are only interested in their own engrandisment, who want to keep the Ummah in a state of ignorance because it allows them to hold onto power and position. Why do you think there was such an uproar from the Islamic establishment when Yusman Roy tried to hold services in a mosque in Bahasa Indonesia, these religious leaders don’t want people to be able to understand and think for themselves.
This problem is compounded by a lack of Law and Order, from a government and civil service which is at best incompetent and at worst downright criminal, the vast majority of whose number are only interested in their own enrichment rather than the welfare of their people, they seem to forget that they are supposed to be the servants of the people rather than the other way around.
Peace
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Tomaculum says:
Are all of the mosques in Indonesia legally built?
Faidin, a village official said: We are disturbed by their presence and worried if they spread their teachings among local residents, who are nearly 100% Muslim.
So, they are disturbed (in other word: intolerance).
And they are worried …….: what a evidence of incapacity. He/they doesn’t/don’t trust the strenght of the faith of their brothers and sisters, do they? And afraid, that their brothers and sisters in faith convert in droves.And the authority (whose job is to assure law and order)? Maybe they abide the same “idealism” and are glad, that they don’t need to make their hands dirty themselves? Or they are chicken hearted? Or they are blind, deaf and dumb?
No, this is not the Islam I knew and for me those people aren’t Muslims. How dare they name themselves Muslim. Don’t they fear of Allah’s punishment for impurifying His Words?
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Boeboe says:
Coll, one hand throw a stone, and the other give a charity. Real class act on your “kind” part. But God is not blind. And His Wrath will then again make you learned your “lesson”.
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