Indonesia Church Faces Radical Muslim Mob Once Again

Muslim protesters again blocked a Protestant church from holding Sunday services in front of their place of worship in West Java, Indonesia, Christian Solidarity Worldwide reports. A spokesman for the the Batak Society Christian Church of Philadelphia said the congregation had to call off the service after scores of protesters gathered to stop them from worshipping. "They were there an hour or so before we were to start our service," said the Rev. Palti Panjaitan. "They brought loudspeakers and played very loud music. They also threatened us." Panjaitan said he tried to reason with the protesters, who included women and children, but to no avail. Police who were there told the church to "cancel the service to prevent any violence," Panjaitan said. "By doing so, however, they violated our constitutional right." According to International Christian Concern, the church has regularly faced opposition from radical Islamist groups despite having all the necessary permits to operate. It received international media coverage in May when a mob threw bags of urine and other objects at the congregation.