December 13, 2025
Web desk
An opinion article in The Jakarta Post highlights the construction of a new multi-denominational Protestant church in Citra Maja City near Jakarta as a rare and hopeful sign of growing religious tolerance in Indonesia. The church, approved by local authorities and inaugurated by the Religious Affairs Minister, is significant because building churches in predominantly Muslim areas has been extremely difficult since the 2006 “religious harmony” regulation.
The article explains that the regulation gives local religious majorities the power to block minority places of worship, leading to the closure or sealing of more than 1,000 churches across Indonesia over the past two decades. Lebak regency, where the new church stands, has long been a hotspot for intolerance, with no church permits issued there since Indonesia’s independence in 1945.
The writer recalls past restrictions, including a 2022 ban on Christmas celebrations in the area, forcing Christians to travel far for worship. Despite having over 100 mosques, the district previously had no official houses of worship for other religions.
The author argues that the new church sets a positive precedent and urges the government to amend or revoke discriminatory regulations. Such reforms, the article says, are essential to ensure equal religious freedom and lasting tolerance for Indonesia’s religious minorities.
