Police Probe Alleged Disruption of Church Service in Bantul

The Special Region of Yogyakarta Police (Polda DIY) is investigating allegations of a disruption to a worship service by members of the Gereja Misi Sejahtera (GMS) in Glugo, Panggungharjo, Sewon, Bantul, on Sunday (24 May). In a statement from Polda DIY, the case is being handled formally under Police Report No. LP/A/6/V/2026/SPKT.DITRESKRIMUM/POLDA D.I YOGYAKARTA, dated 25 May 2026. Polda DIY’s Head of Public Relations, Commissioner of Police Ihsan, stated that investigators are gathering evidence and witness statements to clarify the incident. ‘The case is still under investigation, with the team collecting evidence and witness statements while thoroughly examining the full sequence of events to clarify the incident,’ Ihsan said in a Polda DIY statement received on Wednesday (27 May). Ihsan confirmed the case would move to the investigation stage if sufficient preliminary evidence is found during the case review. Polda DIY is committed to thoroughly and transparently investigating the matter. Ihsan urged the public to remain calm and trust the police and local government to handle the case. ‘The situation at the location is currently stable and under control. We urge all members of the public to remain calm, avoid being provoked by divisive narratives on social media, and leave the resolution of this matter to law enforcement and local authorities,’ he added. Bantul Regent Abdul Halim Muslih previously stated that the disruption of GMS worship activities constitutes persecution that violates the constitution and religious teachings. ‘Persecution and intimidation of worshippers during religious services are unacceptable and cannot be justified from either a religious or constitutional perspective,’ Halim said during a meeting at the Manunggal Bantul Grand Mosque on Wednesday (27 May). Halim cited Article 29, Paragraph 2 of the 1945 Constitution, which guarantees the freedom of all residents to practice their religion and worship according to their beliefs. ‘Those responsible for such persecution can be prosecuted under the law and the constitution,’ he stressed. However, Halim distinguished between the right to worship and the use of buildings for places of worship. He stated that such buildings must comply with applicable regulations, including the Joint Ministerial Decree (SKB 2 Menteri) and Building Permit (PBG) requirements. Halim said the local government, along with Forkopimda, the Ministry of Religion, and the FKUB (Interfaith Harmony Forum), would follow up on GMS’s requests through the proper channels. During this process, the building used by GMS in Glugo, Panggungharjo, Sewon, Bantul has been agreed to be temporarily unused for worship. GMS administrators stated that yesterday’s disruption of worship by the DIY branch of Laskar Forum Jihad Islam (FJI) left trauma, particularly among child congregants, and reported allegations of intimidation during the incident. Meanwhile, FJI DIY Chairman Abdurrahman said their actions at GMS were intended to prevent local conflicts from escalating. He expressed regret over narratives of intolerance circulating. ‘There are many distortions of the news claiming we disrupted worship and are intolerant. The local community had already rejected it; if not dispersed quickly, the conflict would have escalated further,’ Abdurrahman said when contacted on Monday (25 May).