Islamist mob hits church

JAKARTA: A crowd of Muslim hardliners stormed a church in Indonesia's West Java region during Sunday service, smashing images of Jesus and demanding the church be closed, the pastor said yesterday.

Dozens of churches have had to be shut in the Muslim-majority country in recent years, and Sunday's attack wasthe second on the small Protestant church in the WestJava town of Soreang since 2005.

The Reverend Robby Elisa, who heads the church, said about 100 hardliners attacked while Sunday school classes were in session. His wife was beaten and at least four stained-glass depictions of Jesus were smashed.

"They forced their way into the church," he said. "The attackers claimed to be from the Anti-Apostate Movement Alliance. The same group attacked the church in 2005."

The secretary of the church's headquarters in Jakarta, the Reverend Budi Setiawan, said the attack had been reported to the Indonesian Church Association.

West Java, where Islam is strong, has experienced a series of attacks on churches to force their closure.

The Jakarta Post said more than 30 churches had been forced to close in West Java since 2004 because of attacks by Muslim hardliners. Dozens more were shut in other provinces.

Under a decree of the Religious Affairs Ministry, places of worship must obtain the approval of at least 60 per cent of local residents and have at least 90 followers to operate.

Mr Elisa said his church was small, with a congregation of only 20 adults and 40 children and teenagers.

"Where else can we go?" he said. "We are too far from the city, and our congregation needs a place to worship."