TEMPO.CO, Jakarta- Approximately one thousand people incorporated in the Bekasi Muslims Relationship Assembly staged a protest in front of Santa Clara church on Jalan Lingkar Utara, North Bekasi District. The protest was held after the Friday prayers under the supervision of police officers.

One of the protesters standing on top of the command vehicle said that the organization protested the construction of the church, which according to their claim, was built without proper permit. "We will disband if the government repeal the church’s construction permit," the man said on Friday, March 24, 2017.

Secretary of the Asy-Syam Preaching Institution Bekasi Imran Nasution, said that the action was based on the suspicion over violations in the issuance of the church permit. "Such as signature forgery," Imran said.

Imran asserted that ulemas in the region had warned Bekasi Mayor Rahmat Effendi about the irregularities in the church's permit.

"But the mayor refused to listen, and the permit was issued, so the church is currently being constructed," Imran said.

ADI WARSONO