CLOSING OF CHURCH IN MUSLIM AREA OF INDONESIA SPARKS PUBLIC DEBATEMembers of a Protestant church in Indonesia continue to wait for resolution on an incident Sunday, Oct 24, in which Muslim neighbors attacked a local church. Authorities then shut down the church, reported Komintra News. The violent incident was the third since the Nusantara Indonesia Christian Church was established in 1997 in Puri Kosambi, Karawang. Approximately 500 attackers identified as members of the Front Pembela Islam (FPI) vandalized the church, damaging the roof, sound system, pews, doors and windows. As a result, the congregation ceased to hold meetings. A day later, the FPI approached local authorities and asked that the church be closed permanently. Meanwhile, results of a survey published in The Jakarta Post showed that 40.8 percent of Muslim respondents do not agree with Christians conducting worship services in Muslim neighborhoods.From the news flow at Intercessors Network
