Pressure from Islamic extremists has forced the closure of seven churches by the authorities in Cianjur district of West Java, Indonesia. An average of 40 churches are being shut down every year.
Building permit irregularities were cited as the reason for the closures, which are the latest in a long line of similar incidents, most of them in West Java.
Church officials in Cianjur have reported the matter to the national human rights commission, which says local authorities “should not be so quick to close down and disqualify [places of worship]”.
Some of the members of the seven churches have moved to other locations for security reasons. [Barnabas Fund] Read more
