Indonesian mayor seeks to ban churches
2011-08-23 13:00
Jakarta - An Indonesian mayor has proposed a decree that would ban Christian churches on streets with Islamic names.
The move is the latest attempt to block construction of a new church in the world's largest Muslim-majority country.
The Taman Yasmin Indonesian Christian Church was supposed to open in the city of Bogor in 2008, but residents protested, claiming its permit was illegal.
Though the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the parishioners in December, Mayor Diani Budiarto has so far refused to comply.
He's instead calling for a decree to make it illegal to open churches on streets with Islamic names.
Indonesia, a secular nation of 240 million, has a long history of religious tolerance, but an extremist fringe has become more vocal in recent years.
- AP
