Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Laments Forced Dissolution of GMS Worship in Bantul: Hope It Doesn't Recur

Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar has spoken out regarding the forced dissolution of a worship service involving the members of the Gereja Misi Sejahtera (GMS) in Bantul, Yogyakarta Special Region. Nasaruddin expressed regret over the forced dispersal of the congregation’s worship.

Social tensions arising from this incident represent a national challenge for Indonesia. He stated that the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) would not allow the conflict to persist.

“These are our challenges; there will always be challenges in life. But what’s important is that issues don’t linger overnight—resolve them before morning. That is what we are pushing for now. Do not tolerate problems without resolution,” Nasaruddin Umar told reporters, as reported by detikHikmah on Sunday, 31 May 2026.

Nasaruddin lamented the incident, which led to unrest and intimidation. He expressed hope that the MoRA could mediate a fair solution for all parties.

“Insha’Allah, the Ministry of Religious Affairs will strive for prompt and appropriate resolutions, with win-win solutions being the latest motto. No one has ever been pleased with unrest, so this is a challenge we must face and overcome. Hopefully, it does not recur,” he added hopefully.

He also urged citizens, regardless of religious background, to engage in self-reflection to preserve national unity.

On the other side, the DIY Forum of Islamic Jihad (FJI), which dispersed the worship, claimed the action was based on local residents’ objections to the church’s presence due to unresolved licensing issues.

Yogyakarta Special Region Governor Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X also strongly responded to the incident. The Sultan emphasised that racial and religious differences are a divine certainty, and thus, acting as if one is always right cannot be justified.