SOLO CITY, Indonesia — Muslim residents of Banyuanyar Village in Central Java protested the planned construction of a Javanese Christian Church (GKJ) on June 11, pressuring authorities over the project in a neighborhood where 70 Muslim families live alongside just two non-Muslim families.
The protest adds to a pattern of community resistance to church construction across Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, where Christians routinely face bureaucratic and social obstacles to building houses of worship — a dynamic Western governments and religious-liberty advocates have flagged for years.
Legiyatno, the head of Banyuanyar Village, said the demonstration took place on the vacant land where the church is planned to be built. He said “one of the key concerns for residents is meeting administrative requirements, namely obtaining approval from residents living near the construction site.” The proposed site is adjacent to a mosque.
Suprapto, head of church development for the project, said “the permitting process for places of worship had been underway since 2023, but was delayed due to the regional and general elections at that time.” He said “the planned place of worship would stand alone as the GKJ Banyuanyar Church, although its congregation would comprise members from various regions.”
Suprapto pushed back against objections to the church’s proximity to the mosque, arguing that “having places of worship near mosques is common in Indonesia, particularly in Java.” The church construction committee said it is currently focused on completing all administrative documents required by the Solo City Government.
Gugun Gumilar, special staff to the Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs, urged the government to resolve the dispute in accordance with the law. “Indonesia must not give in to groups or people seeking to instill intolerance,” Gumilar said, adding that “the necessary administrative and permitting processes be completed in accordance with regulations and as expeditiously as possible.”
The GKJ Banyuanyar permit application now rests with Solo City authorities, who have yet to announce a timeline for a decision.