Local Muslims forced the closure of a Protestant church in Banjarmasin city, in the Indonesian province of South Kalimantan, on 22 May.
A law introduced in 2006 requires applications for Christian places of worship to be supported by signatures from 60 local, non-Christian households.
Another church in Banjarmasin, which was established in 1995, has had to move its meeting location seven times because the municipal government has refused to grant them a licence for a permanent building. Despite the rejections, the congregation has worked hard to build relationships within the community, and local Muslims have even helped with church-run Christmas activities.
Christians comprise at least 15% of the population of Indonesia and, until a generation ago, Christians and Muslims lived peaceably as equals. However, Christians are now facing increasing discrimination and violence. There have been a number of attacks on churches, including the triple church suicide bombings carried out by members of the same family on Sunday 13 May 2018.
From Barnabas Fund contacts
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