JAKARTA (UCAN): Muslim residents in Banten province, a suburb of Jakarta, mobbed 12 Catholic students at Pamulang University in South Tangerang city while they were conducting a traditional house to house rosary service on May 5.
Police arrested four suspects, along with knives used in the attack, presenting them to the media on May 7. The suspects provoked and shouted at the students “in a loud voice with a tone of swearing and intimidation,” while the others carrying knives joined the attack, the police said.
Office-bearers of the residential association objected to the prayer service, according to Siprianus Edi Hardum, a Catholic lawyer who is extending legal help to the students.
“As a result, two female students were injured and one Muslim man was manhandled for defending the students,” Hardum said.
An injured female student said that they were stopped by the head of the neighbourhood association who asked them not to worship at home, but at church.
“He said to us, ‘If you want to pray, please go to church, like we Muslims worship in the mosque’,” she recounted. The man then left and returned with a mob who attacked the students. The victims were saved from further harm when other Muslims came to their rescue.
The video of the incident went viral on social media on May 6.
South Tangerang police spokesperson, Alvino Cahyadi, said they are investigating the case and would seek out witnesses to the incident, including local community leaders.
“People who disturb those who are praying are destroying Indonesia as a democratic country,” Hardum said while expressing gratitude to the Muslims who helped save the students.
Prayer services of minority groups often get disrupted in Indonesia.
During Christmas in 2022, the Lebak district head in Banten province prohibited Christians from holding celebrations in the area, which does not have a church.
