Although a constitutional right in the Republic of Indonesia guarantees the freedom to embrace and practice worship according to each citizen’s religious convictions, the fact is, for minority religious groups, not only do they have to defend themselves against the intolerant majority religious groups, but they must also defend themselves from the police. The Civil Service Police Unit, in the case of Indonesian Baptist Church (GBI) Tlogosari, was involved with intolerant groups by blocking minority citizens from worshipping.

In Semarang, Central Java, GBI Tlogosari led by Pastor Wahyudi has seen many protests in its development to build a church building. The church has owned a building permit since 1998, though due to funding shortages, the construction stagnated.

What was even more upsetting was the fact that the Civil Service Police Unit (SATPOL),

together with community groups that intimidated the church, also intimidated the construction workers on-site and the store that was providing the building materials. Pastor Wahyudi was also terrorized by several phone calls demanding him to stop building the church.

You find the whole report and details in ICC’s recent article