01/15/2012 Indonesia (The Jakarta Globe) - Two legislators who joined the beleaguered GKI Yasmin congregation for Sunday services in Bogor got a firsthand view of the animosity directed toward the group when they were jeered and jostled by Islamic hard-liners. Eva Kusuma Sundari and Lily Wahid, from the House of Representatives, joined the Christian congregation as they gathered in a supermarket parking lot to worship on Sunday morning.
But the service was interrupted by hundreds of members of the Indonesian MuslimCommunication Forum (Forkami) and the Islamic Reform Movement (Garis), who chanted “Allahu akbar” (“God is great”) while mocking and shoving the worshipers. The congregation, which has been forced to hold its services at members’ homes or on the sidewalk after the building permit for its church was revoked by the local mayor, then moved to a member’s house, but was followed by the mob.
Bona Singalinging, a spokesman for the congregation, said the mob also attempted to break up the service at the house, forcing the congregation to suspend their worship until the hard-liners had dispersed.
“This was intimidation on the part of Forkami and Garis to come to a congregation member’s house and try to break up our service,” he said.
Eva, from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), said the experience had strengthened her empathy for the GKI Yasmin members as well as other marginalized groups.
“The GKI Yasmin case isn’t just about the church, but about national integrity and the rule of law,” she said.
Shewas referring to Bogor Mayor Diani Budiarto’s continued refusal to abide by a Supreme Court ruling ordering him to reopen the church(Source).
But the service was interrupted by hundreds of members of the Indonesian Muslim
Bona Singalinging, a spokesman for the congregation, said the mob also attempted to break up the service at the house, forcing the congregation to suspend their worship until the hard-liners had dispersed.
“This was intimidation on the part of Forkami and Garis to come to a congregation member’s house and try to break up our service,” he said.
Eva, from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), said the experience had strengthened her empathy for the GKI Yasmin members as well as other marginalized groups.
“The GKI Yasmin case isn’t just about the church, but about national integrity and the rule of law,” she said.
Shewas referring to Bogor Mayor Diani Budiarto’s continued refusal to abide by a Supreme Court ruling ordering him to reopen the church(Source).
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