Tension Follows Good Friday Service in Tangerang as Prayer House Sealed Over Permit Issues

TANGERANG, KOMPAS.com - The atmosphere at a simple prayer house in Teluknaga, Tangerang Regency, suddenly turned tense on Friday (3/4/2026) afternoon. A group of residents arrived at the building used by the Persekutuan Oikoumene Umat Kristen (POUK) Tesalonika congregation for worship shortly after the Good Friday service concluded. The residents’ arrival led to the sealing of the prayer house by Satpol PP officers. Behind the incident lies a longer issue, from changes in the building’s function to unresolved permit polemics. At that time, the prayer house was already empty. The congregation had left earlier after the Good Friday service series. Outside the building, a joint team of police, TNI, and Satpol PP officers were on guard. Meanwhile, the residents remained, awaiting clarity on the prayer house’s status. A dialogue was held. Representatives from the residents and congregation leaders sat together, witnessed by local government officials. However, the nearly two-hour meeting did not fully ease the tension. The residents stuck to their demand that the prayer house must be permanently closed. “The sealing must be permanent; nothing should be allowed inside. If they turn on the lights or top up tokens, it’s the same as violating,” said resident representative Rasyid. When officers began applying the sealing stickers, the atmosphere heated up again. Some residents deemed the sealing insufficiently strong and feared worship activities would continue. “I’m sure they will still hold activities after this,” said Rasyid. Satpol PP Head Ana Supriyatna explained that the step was taken because the prayer house did not have the Persetujuan Bangunan Gedung (PBG) as a place of worship.