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Christian Couples, Attorney Assaulted in IndiaHindu extremists force pastor to set fire to Bibles.By Our India Correspon...
24/12/2025

Christian Couples, Attorney Assaulted in India
Hindu extremists force pastor to set fire to Bibles.

By Our India Correspondent
NEW DELHI, December 24, 2025 (Morning Star News) – A Hindu extremist mob in northern India last month assaulted two Christian couples and an attorney for several hours, accusing them of forced conversion, sources said.

In Harayana state’s Titoli village, five miles from the city of Rohtak, the mob forced one of the Christians, a pastor, to set fire to a heap of Bibles while the Hindu extremists recorded videos that immediately went viral, resulting in 32 complaints to police.

Pastor Jehovah Das, 65, and Vinod Masih, 42, along with their wives had been invited to a Christian family’s home in the village to pray and bless the arrival of their second child on Nov. 7, sources said.

About 10 to 12 members of the Arya Samaj (Noble Society), a Hindu reform movement, found out about the Christians’ visit. They phoned several of their associates and gathered a mob of about 50 people that barged into the house.

“They began to beat us with slaps, punches, elbows, kicked us with their legs and held us hostage,” Masih told Morning Star News, adding that they beat the Christians from 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m.

The Hindu extremists, whose number had then reached 80, searched their car, pulled out all Bibles and tracts and cast them onto the ground into a heap. They shot videos that showed the two couples, disoriented and in shock, forced to repeat that they intended “conversion” in the village and that they would never return.

The mob kicked the Bibles and spoke disrespectfully about Christ, Masih said.

Pastor Das was made to write a letter of apology that the video shows in his hand. A member of the mob then took a bottle of flammable liquid from the hands of a boy standing with the mob and forced three of the Christians to sprinkle it on the Bibles and literature. After forcing Pastor Das to set the Bibles on fire, the mob then shouted praises to the Hindu god Rama.

The mob dragged the Christians to their car and locked them inside.

“We were locked in our car for two hours – we were not allowed food, water or to relieve ourselves during this time,” said Masih.

While held hostage, Masih’s wife Reena called attorney Satish Arya for help. Arya, who once belonged to the Arya Samaj sect, has been a practicing Christian for five years. He quickly drove 10 kilometers (six miles) to reach Titoli village.

“While on my way to the village, I called the police helpline and informed them about the hostage situation and requested that any inquiry against the Christians be taken up in the police station, and that they should not let the mob take law in their hands,” Arya told Morning Star News. “Police assured me that they will arrive soon.”

When Arya reached the village, he saw that the Christians were gathered at one area and about 20 to 25 Hindu women were assaulting the two Christian women.

“They were slapping the Christian women, pulling their hair, punching them. The scene was terrible,” said Arya. “The Hindu men were assaulting the Christian men likewise.”

Arya stood at some distance waiting for police, but they did not arrive, he said. The mob called police, and responding officers soon arrived, he said.

One of the Hindu extremists noticed Arya and the words, “Jai Masih Ki [Praise the Lord]” written on his car’s back window, and about 12 of them approached and asked about his background. They quickly learned that he was a Christian.

Arya told them that he was an attorney and insisted that they take the Christians to the police station and let officers, rather than the mob, question them.

“I objected to their act of holding the Christians hostage for four hours and questioned their inhumane behavior,” Arya said.

Wearing his black court robe, he was dragged to the site where the other Christians were being beaten and was assaulted.

“They tore my black gown, my shirt and my innerwear,” he said. “They stripped my upper body and continued to beat me for 25 minutes, and that too in the presence of the police.”

The mob proposed that they put all five Christians in a car and set them on fire within, and Arya told them the law would not spare them for such a horrendous act.

A man from among the Hindu mob somehow managed to set Arya free, and the attorney left and called his wife, asking her to bring him a fresh set of clothes.

Officers responding to Arya’s initial helpline call finally arrived, detained the Christians and took them to the police station, sources said. After Arya went to a doctor and received first aid, he then went to the police station.

“By the time I reached the police station, the Christians were pressured to give a written statement that they did not want to press charges against the mob and promised that they would not enter that village in the future,” he said.

Arya wanted to take legal action, but when he held a meeting with the host family in Titoli village, he learned Hindu residents had threatened to drive them from the area if they sided with the Christians.

“This family, though in faith for almost 18 years, came under pressure from the Hindu extremists,” Masih told Morning Star News.

The following day, about 80 Haryana pastors met with Arya and registered a police complaint against the assailants. They also submitted a written complaint on Nov. 10 with the Superintendent of Police demanding strict action against the perpetrators. Though the administration assured full cooperation and necessary action in the matter, no arrests were made and no action taken.

Arya gave statements to local media outlets, disclosing the hostage-taking and assault. Police summoned the Christians to the station and pressured them to reach a compromise with the assailants on Nov. 23, pre-empting any arrests of either party.

“The police came under obligation to act and called together the village council and the perpetrators,” Arya said. “The village head apologized for their action in writing, kissed the Bible and placed it on his head.”

Christians submitted 32 complaints in different police stations for hurting religious feelings after the video of the burning Bibles went viral.

Both couples were severely traumatized. Pastor Das left the district to reside with his children in Bangalore (officially Bengaluru), Karnataka state.

The hostile tone of the National Democratic Alliance government, led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, against non-Hindus has emboldened Hindu extremists in several parts of the country to attack Christians since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took power in May 2014, religious rights advocates say.

India ranked 11th on Christian support organization Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, up from 31st in 2013 before Modi came to power.

If you would like to help persecuted Christians, visit https://morningstarnews.org/resources/aid-agencies/ for a list of organizations that can orient you on how to get involved.

If you or your organization would like to help enable Morning Star News to continue raising awareness of persecuted Christians worldwide with original-content reporting, please consider collaborating at https://morningstarnews.org/donate/?

Photo: Burning of Bibles during attack on Christians in Harayana state’s Titoli village on Nov. 7, 2025. (Morning Star News screenshot from video)
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Morning Star News is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that relies solely on contributions to offer original news reports of persecuted Christians. By providing reliable news on the suffering church, Morning Star News’ mission is to empower those in the free world to help and to encourage persecuted Christians that they are not forgotten or alone. For free subscription, contact [email protected]; to make tax-deductible donations, visit https://morningstarnews.org/donate/? or send check to Morning Star News, 34281 Doheny Park Rd., # 7022, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624, USA.

Muslims Block Christians from Celebrating Christmas in IndonesiaProtestors form human chain to wall out congregation.By ...
23/12/2025

Muslims Block Christians from Celebrating Christmas in Indonesia
Protestors form human chain to wall out congregation.

By Our Indonesia Correspondent
SURABAYA, Indonesia, December 23, 2025 (Morning Star News) – As police looked on, Muslims in West Java Province, Indonesia on Dec. 14 formed a human wall to block Christians from attending a Christmas service, according to local media.

Muslims from outside Jayasampurna village, Serang Baru Sub-District, Bekasi Regency near Jakarta blocked the congregation of the Huria Kristen Batak Protestant Church (Huria Kristen Batak Protestant, HKBP) from celebrating Christmas at a prayer post near the Green Cikarang housing complex.

Videos on social media show dozens of police officers and onlookers watching dozens of Muslim men and women holding hands to form the human chain, make anti-Christian comments and shout the jihadist slogan “Allahu Akbar [God is Greatest).” The Muslims held back and pushed members of the church as they struggled to make their way to prayer post for Christmas services.

“We only want to worship peacefully – we have no intention of disturbing anyone,” a Christian says in one video.

One of the protestors’ banners reads, “We, the Muslim residents of Jayasempurna village, firmly reject the construction of illegal houses in our neighborhood forever,” another video shows.

Muslims from outside the area also blocked the Christians from worship on the two prior Sundays, Dec. 7 and Nov. 30, according to harianterbit.com, which reported the church had used the site for worship for seven years.

Local authorities held a mediation meeting between the conflicting parties on Dec. 15 overseen by the Regent of Bekasi. The parties agreed that the HKBP congregation would hold services temporarily at the Interfaith Harmony Forum office in the city of Jababeka, harianterbit.com reported.

On Thursday (Dec. 18), the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs held a mediation meeting between the two parties, resulting in eight agreements, the official Indonesian news agency Antara reported. The conflicting parties agreed to forgive each other and resolve all permit processes for construction of prayer posts, and the Ministry of Religion agreed to help the church celebrate Christmas.

Indonesians on social media lamented repeated violations of religious freedom.

“Kang [meaning brother, referring to West Java Gov. Dedi Mulyadi) Dedi, don’t just stay silent, Bro,” wrote rights activist Permadiarya2. “This kind of intolerance happens too often in your province, Bro. Year 2025 was the worst year in the history of interfaith tolerance in Indonesia…Please, policymakers, don’t turn a blind eye to this persecution of Christians...They are not second-class citizens, Sir. They have the same right to worship, and the state is obliged to protect and defend them.”

Indonesian society in recent years has adopted a more conservative Islamic character, and churches involved in evangelistic outreach are at risk of being targeted by Islamic extremist groups, according to Open Doors.

If you would like to help persecuted Christians, visit https://morningstarnews.org/resources/aid-agencies/ for a list of organizations that can orient you on how to get involved.

If you or your organization would like to help enable Morning Star News to continue raising awareness of persecuted Christians worldwide with original-content reporting, please consider collaborating at https://morningstarnews.org/donate/?

Photo: Location of West Java Province in Indonesia. (TUBS, Creative Commons)
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© 2025 Morning Star News. Articles/photos may be reprinted with credit to Morning Star News. https://morningstarnews.org

Tweet: https://twitter.com/morningstarnewz/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningStarNews

Morning Star News is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that relies solely on contributions to offer original news reports of persecuted Christians. By providing reliable news on the suffering church, Morning Star News’ mission is to empower those in the free world to help and to encourage persecuted Christians that they are not forgotten or alone. For free subscription, contact [email protected]; to make tax-deductible donations, visit https://morningstarnews.org/donate/? or send check to Morning Star News, 34281 Doheny Park Rd., # 7022, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624, USA.

Christian in Hiding Acquitted of Blasphemy in PakistanWidely condemned statutes wreck another life with false allegation...
18/12/2025

Christian in Hiding Acquitted of Blasphemy in Pakistan
Widely condemned statutes wreck another life with false allegation.

By Christian Daily International-Morning Star News
LAHORE, Pakistan, December 18, 2025 (Christian Daily International-Morning Star News) – A court in Pakistan in September acquitted a Christian charged with blasphemy, but his supporters did not reveal it until this month due to security concerns, his lawyer said.

Sargodha Magistrate Syed Faizan-e-Rasool on Sept. 27 acquitted 47-year-old Haroon Shahzad of the false blasphemy charge by Muhammad Imran Ladhar on June 30, 2023, after the Muslim complainant retracted his allegation, Christian attorney Aneeqa Maria said.

Ladhar made the allegation after Shahzad posted Bible verses on Facebook. Shahzad, who was granted bail on Nov. 6, 2023 and has been in hiding since then, did not make the acquittal public earlier due to security concerns, Maria added.

“Though the complainant, who was also the prime prosecution witness, exonerated Shahzad of the allegation, the public prosecutor insisted that remaining prosecution evidence was sufficient to convict the accused,” she told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. “However, the magistrate noted that cross-examination of the prime witness by the public prosecutor had also failed to favor the prosecution and the case had been dented beyond repair.”

The verdict also observed that the Bible was undisputedly revered by Muslims, and that the Quran also called on Muslims not judge those who believe in the gospel. The magistrate then went on to acquit Shahzad of the charges framed under sections 295-A and 298 of Pakistan’s blasphemy statutes, the attorney said.

Section 295-A relates to “deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs” and is punishable with imprisonment of up to 10 years and fine, or both. Section 298 prescribes up to one year in prison and a fine, or both, for hurting religious sentiments.

“The verdict lays bare the profound fragility of justice itself,” Maria said. “It reveals a system in which an individual’s liberty, dignity and entire future can be held hostage by a flawed process, where an accusation alone can unleash turmoil, turn lives upside down and leave families shattered.”

The court has rightly highlighted the injustice in this instance, she noted.

“Yet we are compelled to ask: How many others, without such a clear retraction, endure the same grinding ordeal?” Maria said. “How many lives are left scarred by a process that should protect, not punish, the innocent?”

Shahzad, a paint contractor, on June 29, 2023 posted on his page 1 Cor. 10:18-21 regarding food sacrificed to idols, as Muslims were beginning the four-day festival of Eid al-Adha, which involves slaughtering an animal and sharing the meat. A Muslim villager took a screenshot of the post, sent it to local social media groups and accused Shahzad of likening Muslims to pagans and disrespecting the Abrahamic tradition of animal sacrifice.

Though Shahzad made no comment in the post, inflammatory or otherwise, the situation became tense after Islamic Friday prayers when announcements were made from mosque loudspeakers telling people to gather for a protest. Fearing violence as mobs grew in the village, most Christian families fled their homes, leaving everything behind.

Previously Shahzad told Morning Star News that the complainant, Ladhar, said to be a member of the now proscribed Islamist extremist party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan and also allegedly connected with banned terrorist group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, filed the charge because of a grudge.

According to Shahzad, he and his family had obtained valuable government land and allotted it for construction of a church building, and Ladhar and others had filed multiple cases against the allotment and lost all of them after a four-year legal battle.

Regarding the social media post, Shahzad said he had no intention of hurting Muslim sentiments by sharing the biblical verse on his page.

“I posted the verse a week before Eid al-Adha [Feast of the Sacrifice] but I had no idea that it would be used to target me and my family,” he said. “In fact, when I came to know that Ladhar was provoking the villagers against me, I deleted the post and decided to meet the village elders to explain my position.”

Pakistan, whose population is more than 96 percent Muslim, ranked eighth on Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List of the most difficult countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian.

If you would like to help persecuted Christians, visit https://morningstarnews.org/resources/aid-agencies/ for a list of organizations that can orient you on how to get involved.

If you or your organization would like to help enable Morning Star News to continue raising awareness of persecuted Christians worldwide with original-content reporting, please consider collaborating at https://morningstarnews.org/donate/?

Photo: Haroon Shahzad with attorney Aneeqa Maria. (Christian Daily International-Morning Star News)
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© 2025 Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. Articles/photos may be reprinted with credit to Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. https://morningstarnews.org

Tweet: https://twitter.com/morningstarnewz/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningStarNews

Morning Star News is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that relies solely on contributions to offer original news reports of persecuted Christians. By providing reliable news on the suffering church, Morning Star News’ mission is to empower those in the free world to help and to encourage persecuted Christians that they are not forgotten or alone. For free subscription, contact [email protected]; to make tax-deductible donations, visit https://morningstarnews.org/donate/? or send check to Morning Star News, 34281 Doheny Park Rd., # 7022, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624, USA.

Christian Family of Girl R***d in Pakistan Seeks JusticeMuslims use threats to pressure them to drop charges.By Christia...
17/12/2025

Christian Family of Girl R***d in Pakistan Seeks Justice
Muslims use threats to pressure them to drop charges.

By Christian Daily International-Morning Star News
LAHORE, Pakistan, December 17, 2025 (Christian Daily International-Morning Star News) – A Muslim in Pakistan last week sexually assaulted a 6-year-old Christian neighbor girl, and his family is pressuring her family to withdraw their police complaint and reach a settlement, her father said.

Saleem Masih, an impoverished mason and Salvation Army church member, said his daughter was being tutored by the sister of a Muslim in his early 20s, Muhammad Uzair Riaz Dogar, at the Muslim family’s home when Dogar sodomized her on Dec. 10.

Masih’s daughter had been studying with the suspect’s sister for nearly four months at the home in village Chak No 237-GB, Jaranwala, Faisalabad District, Punjab Province, but on that day the tutor left her and other students with her younger brother and went to do some household chores, he said.

“The accused allowed all the Muslim students to leave except my daughter, whom he then forcibly took to another room and r***d her,” Masih told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News.

When Masih’s daughter did not return home from the tutoring center at the Muslims’ home on the same street as his house, her mother went to get her – only to find her sitting near Dogar’s home crying in pain, her clothes soaked in blood, Masih said.

“My wife was devastated when my daughter told her that the accused had assaulted her,” he said. “Her condition was such that she couldn’t even walk, and my wife had to pick her up and bring her home.”

The family called police, who took the girl to a hospital, where examination confirmed that she had been sodomized, Masih said.

Police soon took Dogar into custody, but his family has been pressuring the Christians with threats to reach a settlement, forcing them to leave their village, Masih said.

“They had the audacity to tell us that we are poor Christians, and we should be thankful that their son had only sodomized the child, ‘not r***d her,’ which would have brought dishonor and shame to us,” he told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. “They also threatened that if we do not reach a settlement with them, they would make our lives miserable and no one would stand with us.”

Masih said he had resolved to continue pursuit of justice for his daughter despite the threats and intimidation.

“Muslims think that they can commit any crime against us, and no one would dare oppose them,” he said. “The same accused had previously assaulted another Christian girl of the village, but her family kept silent due to the threats. But we are not going to back down from our case, come what may.”

He said the family was grateful to Christians’ True Spirit (CTS) for providing free legal aid and shelter to them and encouraging them to take a stand against the influential Muslim family.

CTS Executive Director Katherine Sapna said police had charged Dogar under Section 376-iii of the Pakistan Penal Code, which prescribes death or a life sentence for those guilty of ra**ng minors or the mentally/physically disabled.

“Many poor Christian families tend to shy from taking legal action against their powerful oppressors for fear of social stigma and threats to their lives, but we were encouraged by the Masih family’s resolve to take a stand for their child,” Sapna said.

In view of the threats to the Masih family, CTS has decided to keep the Christian family away from their home in the village until police file a chargesheet in court, she said.

“It’s very unfortunate that this family has been forced to relocate from their village just days before Christmas,” Sapna said. “However, we think it is important to keep them safe so that the accused’s family and friends cannot force them in any way to reach a settlement.”

Pakistan, whose population is more than 96 percent Muslim, ranked eighth on Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List of the most difficult countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian.

If you would like to help persecuted Christians, visit https://morningstarnews.org/resources/aid-agencies/ for a list of organizations that can orient you on how to get involved.

If you or your organization would like to help enable Morning Star News to continue raising awareness of persecuted Christians worldwide with original-content reporting, please consider collaborating at https://morningstarnews.org/donate/?

Photo: Sunni Rizwi Mosque in Faisalabad, Pakistan. (Minhajian, Creative Commons)
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© 2025 Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. Articles/photos may be reprinted with credit to Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. https://morningstarnews.org

Tweet: https://twitter.com/morningstarnewz/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningStarNews

Morning Star News is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that relies solely on contributions to offer original news reports of persecuted Christians. By providing reliable news on the suffering church, Morning Star News’ mission is to empower those in the free world to help and to encourage persecuted Christians that they are not forgotten or alone. For free subscription, contact [email protected]; to make tax-deductible donations, visit https://morningstarnews.org/donate/? or send check to Morning Star News, 34281 Doheny Park Rd., # 7022, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624, USA.

Muslims Demand Closure of Church in IndonesiaCatholics trying to renovate for Christmas.By Our Indonesia CorrespondentSU...
17/12/2025

Muslims Demand Closure of Church in Indonesia
Catholics trying to renovate for Christmas.

By Our Indonesia Correspondent
SURABAYA, Indonesia, December 16, 2025 (Morning Star News) – Muslims in West Java Province, Indonesia are demanding closure of a Catholic church, claiming that its renovations for Christmas lack permission, sources said.

A group of 20 Muslims called the Islamic Empowerment and Development Agency (BP2UI), on Dec. 6 called for demolition of the building of St. Vincentius A. Paulo Catholic Church in Tlajung Udik village, Gunung Putri District, Bogor Regency, local media reported.

The protestors unfurled banners reading, “Close and demolish illegal churches,”
“Shut down and dismantle churches that manipulate regulations,” “Shut down and dismantle churches that betray the community,” “Shut down and dismantle churches that spread slander,” “Shut down and dismantle churches that incite conflict” and “Shut down and dismantle churches that divide the nation.”

BP2UI spokesman Anhari Sulthoni told media the church’s construction nearly 25 years ago was carried out without adequate coordination with the surrounding community, and that therefore renovations should be stopped until a permit is obtained, NetralNews.com. reported.

The head of the Bogor Regency Religious Affairs Office, Ahmad Sjukri, told media at the protest site that he regretted the demonstration as protestors had attended a Nov. 17 meeting of the Bogor Regency National Unity and Politics Board (Kesbangpol) that confirmed the permit for the church was complete.

“The meeting also concluded that the church’s permit was complete and there were no further issues,” Ahmad said, according to Indonews.id.

At the same time, he said that in a democracy the protestors were free to file a lawsuit with the State Administrative Court regarding the church’s building permit.

The Catholic church rejected the protestors’ allegations. Church attorney Siprianus Edi Hardum told Morning Star News that the church building had legal status with Building Permit (IMB) Number 645.8/182TRB/2000 issued on Dec. 21, 2000.

The establishment of St. Vincentius A. Paulo Church in Gunung Putri, Bogor, West Java, Edi said, was based on Joint Decree of the Minister of Religious Affairs and the Minister of Home Affairs Number 01/BER/MDN-MAG/1969 concerning the Implementation of Government Officials’ Duties in Ensuring Order and the Smooth Implementation of Religious Development and Worship by Its Adherents.

Thus the permit requirements for renovation of the St. Vincentius A. Paolo Church in Gunung Putri did not apply to the separate 2006 Joint Regulations of the Minister of Religious Affairs and the Minister of Home Affairs Number 9 and 8 concerning Guidelines for the Implementation of Duties of Regional Heads/Deputy Regional Heads in Maintaining Interfaith Harmony, because the building permit (Ijin Mendirikan Bangunan, IMB) was issued in 2000, Edi said.

Article 28, paragraph (1) of the 1969 Joint Decree of the two Ministers states, “Building permits for houses of worship issued by the regional government before the enactment of this Joint Regulation are declared valid and remain in effect,” he noted.

Paragraph (2) of the 1969 decree reads, “Renovations of houses of worship that already have a building permit (IMB) for houses of worship will be processed in accordance with the IMB provisions as long as there is no change of location,” he said.

“So, while we have been renovating in accordance with our IMB, we continue to follow the old regulations as the basis for issuing our IMB,” Edi said.

This provision, he said, aligns with Article 346 paragraph (1) of Government Regulation Number 16 of 2021 concerning the Implementing Regulations of Law Number 28 of 2002 concerning Buildings, which states, “Buildings that have obtained permits issued by the district/city government before this Government Regulation comes into effect shall remain valid.”

Gunung Putri Sub-District Head Kurnia Indra and others online also voiced their regret over the demonstration, asking the government and security forces to not be influenced by Muslim groups opposing the church.

The official website of the Diocese of Bogor, keuskupanbogor.org, which serves as the parent organization of the local Catholic church, observed that St. Vincentius A. Paulo Catholic Church was formerly a station of the Holy Family Parish in Cibinong, Bogor, West Java. The station chapel was constructed on a 1,000-square-meter plot donated by PT. Ferry Sonneville in 1996.

After a lengthy process, the modest church was built on Sept. 1, 2001, with the full support of the surrounding community.

As this year’s Christmas approaches, the church, which now has more than 1,800 members, began renovations on its building.

“However, in early October 2025, while our church renovations were underway, there were rumors from certain individuals claiming that the construction of our church was illegal,” Edi told Morning Star News.

Upon hearing the rumors, Yusuf Ibrahim, head of Tlajung Udik village, invited the Rev. Eko, parish priest of St. Vincentius A. Paolo Gunung Putri, along with several church officials, to a meeting at the Tlajung Udik Village Office on Oct. 10, Edi said.

On Nov. 6, the local government authorized the church to proceed with renovations. On Nov. 8 the Tlajung Udik village head, Yusuf Ibrahim, promised the church that he would provide security and comfort to all religious communities, including the Catholic congregation of St. Vincentius A. Paolo Church. He then announced that a meeting would be held at the Tlajung Udik Village Office.

On Nov. 13, the church received a soft copy of a letter from the Agency for the Development and Empowerment of the Muslim Community (BP2UI) to the Regent of Bogor entitled, “Establishment of an Illegal Church.”

“We believe the contents of the letter are excessive and provocative,” Edi said.

Indonesian society in recent years has adopted a more conservative Islamic character, and churches involved in evangelistic outreach are at risk of being targeted by Islamic extremist groups, according to Christian support group Open Doors.

If you would like to help persecuted Christians, visit https://morningstarnews.org/resources/aid-agencies/ for a list of organizations that can orient you on how to get involved.

If you or your organization would like to help enable Morning Star News to continue raising awareness of persecuted Christians worldwide with original-content reporting, please consider collaborating at https://morningstarnews.org/donate/?

Photo: Mosque in Gunung Putri District, West Java Province, Indonesia. (Nur Cholis, Creative Commons)
# # #

© 2025 Morning Star News. Articles/photos may be reprinted with credit to Morning Star News. https://morningstarnews.org

Tweet: https://twitter.com/morningstarnewz/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningStarNews

Morning Star News is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that relies solely on contributions to offer original news reports of persecuted Christians. By providing reliable news on the suffering church, Morning Star News’ mission is to empower those in the free world to help and to encourage persecuted Christians that they are not forgotten or alone. For free subscription, contact [email protected]; to make tax-deductible donations, visit https://morningstarnews.org/donate/? or send check to Morning Star News, 34281 Doheny Park Rd., # 7022, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624, USA.

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