Bantul Regent Condemns Church Service Disruption: Persecution Unacceptable

Bantul Regent Abdul Halim Muslih described the disruption of a church service at Gereja Misa Sejahtera (GMS) in Sewon, Bantul, as persecution. He stated the act violates both religious teachings and the constitution.

“Persecution and intimidation against worshippers during religious services is unacceptable and cannot be justified from either a religious or constitutional perspective,” Halim told reporters at Masjid Agung Manunggal Bantul, as reported by detikJogja on Wednesday (27/5/2026).

Halim said Prophet Muhammad responded to differences with tolerance. Therefore, he concluded that human diversity is a divine order (sunatullah) and tolerance is the practice of the Prophet (sunah rasul).

“Therefore, anyone, especially Muslims, must grant non-Muslims the freedom to practice their religion as part of fulfilling Islamic teachings,” he said.

“No one, especially not in the name of religion, can persecute or disrupt another community’s worship – there is absolutely no basis for this,” Halim added.

Halim also noted that under the constitution, specifically Article 29, Paragraph 2 of the 1945 Constitution, the state guarantees every citizen the right to practice their chosen religion and worship according to their beliefs.

Halim stated that the construction of places of worship is regulated under the Joint Ministerial Decree and regional leadership forum (Forkopimda), with the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) and FKUB (Interfaith Harmony Forum) to process GMS’s application.