by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) - Muslims in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, are blocking a Christian school from being built in their neighborhood despite the school having been granted the requisite building permit by the authorities, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
The Gamaliel Christian School in Parepare City, South Sulawesi, received permission to build from the Regional Government of Parepare City in July 2023, chairman of the school’s foundation, Djuanda Alfonsius, told ICC. Moreover, the land on which the school was being built belonged to a Christian church congregation.
However, local Muslim residents pressed for the construction to stop, arguing the Christians did not have the correct permit, ICC reports. According to ICC, the Muslims object to having a Christian school built in a Muslim neighborhood.
“With the upcoming national elections in February 2024, this case again highlights the ongoing injustices Christian groups face in meeting to worship corporately and building new schools or churches,” ICC said in its report.
“This intolerance is increasing for Christians in Indonesia,” ICC said. “Please pray that cases of intolerance like this do not spread in Indonesia and pray the current and incoming government are more tolerant of religious freedoms and diversity in the country,” ICC requested.
Muslim-majority Indonesia ranks 33rd on the US Open Doors World Watch List 2023 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.