A Christian congregation in Indonesia’s Special Region of Yogyakarta faced intimidation during a Sunday worship service, reigniting concerns about religious freedom and the protection of minority faith communities.
Members of Gereja Misi Sejahtera (GMS) in Sewon, Bantul Regency, reported that a group of people arrived at their worship site on May 24 and demanded that the service be stopped. Multiple social media posts circulating after the incident also alleged that some protesters threatened to burn the building being used for worship.
The incident quickly drew public attention and renewed concerns about freedom of worship in Indonesia, where disputes involving places of worship have at times become flashpoints for tension affecting religious minorities.
The Movement for Mutual Cooperation Against Intolerance (GEMAYOMI) said the group arrived at the worship site at around 7:59 a.m. and objected to the gathering, citing questions about the building’s permit status.
GEMAYOMI said police officers already deployed to the area secured the location and prevented the situation from escalating into violence. The worship service proceeded as planned and concluded peacefully around 9 a.m., with congregation members dispersing afterward.
The organization welcomed the police response but said the incident reflected continuing challenges in safeguarding freedom of religion and worship.
GEMAYOMI urged authorities to address administrative concerns through legal and governmental channels rather than allowing public pressure or intimidation to disrupt religious activities.
In a statement sent to LiCAS News, GEMAYOMI chairman Cyprianus Lilik Krismantoro called for dialogue and restraint among local leaders and residents.
“Calling on all village officials, community leaders, and interfaith religious figures in the Sewon subdistrict to avoid being easily provoked by divisive narratives brought by outside groups. Social disputes at the local level should be resolved respectfully through mediation and inclusive dialogue grounded in the spirit of mutual cooperation (gotong royong), in order to foster genuine tolerance and preserve social harmony in Bantul,” he said.
Local authorities confirmed that objections had been raised against the congregation’s worship activities and said preventive measures had been taken after receiving information about possible protests.
“Kesbangpol did not merely wait for reports. Once we received information about possible objections to the GMS activities, we immediately coordinated with related parties,” said Yulius Suharto, acting head of the Bantul Regency National Unity and Politics Agency (Kesbangpol).
He said officials acted quickly to prevent tensions from escalating.
“The most important thing is that we have taken swift steps to maintain public order and stability in Bantul,” he added.
According to Kesbangpol, the congregation had previously held regular worship services at a hotel in the Sewon area before renting another building to serve as a center for church activities. The May 24 gathering was reportedly the congregation’s first worship service at the new location.
Authorities said the church possesses a Certificate of Reporting Registration (SKTL) and are reviewing whether additional administrative requirements may apply to the building’s use as a place of worship.
“We will further examine whether the SKTL can already serve as the basis for using the building as a place of worship or whether additional administrative procedures are still necessary,” Suharto said.
The Sewon incident is the latest in a series of cases that have raised concerns about religious tolerance in Bantul and other parts of Yogyakarta.
Among the incidents cited by civil society groups were the reported rejection of a resident because of religious differences in 2019, the disruption of a Hindu Odalan ceremony in 2018, the forced stoppage of the Sedekah Laut cultural tradition the same year, and the destruction of a cross-shaped grave marker in the Kotagede area bordering Bantul.
The recurrence of such incidents prompted the Yogyakarta provincial government to adopt measures aimed at strengthening interfaith harmony, including regulations promoting tolerance and preventing acts of intolerance.
Civil society groups have argued that protecting religious freedom requires not only law enforcement but also sustained efforts to strengthen dialogue, civic values, and respect for diversity within local communities.
