Muslims in Indonesia’s West Java province are demanding the closure of a Catholic church, citing lack of permission for renovation work in preparation for Christmas, officials said.
According to local media reports, a group of 20 Muslims called the Islamic Empowerment and Development Authority (BP2UI) on December 6 demanded the demolition of the St. Vincent A. Paul Catholic Church building in Trajun Udik village, Gunung Putri district, Bogor province.
Protesters unfurled a banner that read: “Shut down and destroy illegal churches.”
“Closing and dismantling churches that manipulate regulations,” “Closing and dismantling churches that betray the community,” “Closing and dismantling churches that spread slander,” “Closing and dismantling churches that incite conflict,” and “Closing and dismantling churches that divide the nation.”
According to NetralNews.com, BP2UI spokesperson Anhari Sultoni told the media that the construction of the nearly 25-year-old church was done without proper coordination with the surrounding community and that renovation work should be halted until permits are obtained. Reported.
Speaking to the media at the protest site, Ahmad Shukri, head of the Bogor Regency Religious Affairs Office, said he regretted the demonstration as the protesters had attended the November 17 meeting of the Bogor Regency Political Committee for National Unity (Kesbanpol), which confirmed that the church’s permit had been completed.
“The meeting came to the conclusion that the church permit has been completed and there are no further issues,” Ahmad said, according to Indonews.id.
He also said that in a democracy, protesters have the freedom to sue the state administrative court over church construction permits.
The Catholic Church rejected the protesters’ claims. Church lawyer Cyprian Eddy Khaldum told Morning Star News that the church building has legal status with building permit (IMB) number 645.8/182TRB/2000 issued on December 21, 2000.
Mr. Eddy said the establishment of St. Vincent A. Paul Church was based on the Joint Decree No. 01/BER/MDN-MAG/1969 of the Minister of Religious Affairs and the Minister of Interior on the implementation of the duties of public servants in ensuring order and the smooth conduct of religious development and worship by believers.
Therefore, the permit requirements for the renovation of St. Vincent A. Paolo Church in Gunung Putri were not applicable to the Minister of Religious Affairs and the Minister of Interior’s separate Joint Regulations No. 9 and 8 of 2006 “Guidelines for the Implementation of the Duties of Local Heads/Deputy Local Heads to Maintain Interreligious Harmony” since the building permit (Ijin Mendilikan Bangunan, IMB) was issued in 2000. Eddie said.
Article 28, Paragraph 1 of the 1969 Joint Ordinance of the two Ministers states that “building permits for houses of worship issued by local governments prior to the enactment of this Joint Ordinance shall be declared valid and shall remain in force.”
Paragraph (2) of the 1969 Ordinance states: “Renovations of houses of worship for which a building permit for houses of worship (IMB) has already been obtained shall be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the IMB, unless there is a change of location.”
“Therefore, although we have carried out renovations in accordance with the IMB, we continue to follow the old regulations as the basis for IMB issuance,” Eddy said.
According to him, this provision is in line with Article 346, Paragraph 1 of Government Regulation No. 16 of 2021 on Implementing Regulations of Law No. 28 of 2002 on Buildings, which states that “buildings with permits issued by the district/municipal government before the entry into force of this Government Regulation remain valid.”
Gunung Putri sub-district chief Kurnia Indra and others also expressed regret over the demonstrations online, calling on the government and security forces not to be influenced by Muslim groups opposed to the church.
The official website of the Diocese of Bogor, keuskupanbogor.org, which serves as the parent organization of the local Catholic church, said St. Vincent A. Paul Catholic Church was previously the home of the Holy Family Parish in Cibinong, Bogor, West Java. The station chapel was built on a 1,000 square meter site donated by PT. Ferry Sonneville in 1996.
After a long process and with the full support of the surrounding community, the humble church was erected on September 1, 2001.
As this year’s Christmas approaches, the church, which now has more than 1,800 members, began renovating its building.
“However, in early October 2025, as renovation work was underway on our church, there were rumors from certain individuals claiming that the construction of our church was illegal,” Eddy told Morning Star News.
Hearing the rumors, Yusuf Ibrahim, head of Trajung Udik village, invited the parish priest of St. Vincent A. Paolo Gunung Putri, Rev. Eko, and several church officials to a meeting to be held at the Trajung Udik village hall on October 10, Eddy said.
On November 6, the local government approved the church to proceed with renovation work. On November 8, Torajun Udik village head Yusuf Ibrahim promised the church to provide security and comfort to all religious communities, including the Catholic faithful of St. Vincent A. Paul Church. Later, it was announced that a meeting would be held at the Trajun Udik village hall.
On November 13, the Church received a soft copy of a letter from the Islamic Community Development and Empowerment Authority (BP2UI) to the Bogor Regent titled “Establishment of an Illegal Church.”
“I believe the contents of the letter are excessive and provocative,” Eddy said.
According to Christian support group Open Doors, Indonesian society has taken on a more conservative Islamic character in recent years, putting evangelistic churches at risk of being targeted by Islamic extremist groups.
