Muslims Storm Church in Indonesia: Police

May 22, 2008

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Hindustan Times/Agence France-Presse

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=f360c1cd-cec1-4b9a-acb5-6e681119a0a2&MatchID1=54&TeamID1=3&TeamID2=2&MatchType1=5&SeriesID1=1&PrimaryID=54&Headline=Muslims+storm+church+in+Indonesia%3a+Police

Muslims have stormed a church in Indonesia to force it to close down, a resident and police said on Thursday, in the latest incident of religious intolerance in the archipelago nation.

The attack in West Java on Tuesday came after a series of similar incidents targeting churches set up in Muslim areas of the province.

"Four people have been detained for questioning and are currently in custody," Purwakarta district police First Inspector Yadi said.

He refused to give details about the incident but said the church, which was still under construction in Citeko village, was now under constant guard by local police.

A resident of Citeko said Muslim villagers stormed the church around midnight after Christians failed to take their religious services elsewhere.

"The local leaders have asked them not to use the building as a church as we are all Muslims here and those going to the church are not from here," resident Haji Ndang said.