Ministry of Religious Affairs Laments GMS Worship Disruption in Bantul

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has expressed regret over the disruption of a worship service at Gereja Misa Sejahtera (GMS) in Sewon, Bantul, Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY).

“The disruption of worship services should be avoided through more persuasive approaches, with all parties prioritising consultation and maintaining religious harmony,” said Thobib Al Asyhar, Head of the Ministry of Religious Affairs’ Bureau of Public Relations and Public Communication, in a statement on Thursday, 28 May 2026.

He stressed that any form of violence or anarchic actions cannot be justified under any circumstances.

“We support law enforcement taking action in accordance with regulations against any acts of anarchy and violence,” he added.

“We urge religious communities to comply with permits for places of worship. This remains the applicable regulation to serve as a common guideline for all religious communities,” he said.

Thobib also called on all elements of society to maintain harmony among religious communities.

“We urge religious communities to maintain harmony and respect each other’s religious freedom while adhering to existing regulations,” he said.

The disruption of worship, which occurred on 24 May 2026, has gained significant attention on social media.

Several social media posts indicated that a group of people carried out the disruption of the GMS Bantul congregation’s worship service.