D

espite media reports that the church attack in Medan, North Sumatra, was carried out by someone with alleged ties to the Islamic State (IS) movement, religious leaders believe the attack was not religiously motivated but was simply a criminal act by an individual.

North Sumatra’s Indonesian Catholic Society Forum (FMKI) chairman Parlindungan Purba said a number of religious leaders had held a meeting with the Interfaith Harmony Forum (FKUB), resulting in a shared agreement that Sunday’s attack on St. Yosep Church lacked the elements of religious or racial intolerance.

Parlindungan, who is also a North Sumatra Regional Representatives Council (DPD) member, added that the attack, was an individual action that was not associated with any particular religion.

“It’s purely the work of an individual and is not associated with any particular religion or related to ethnic or sectarian conflicts,” Parlindungan told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

North Sumatra FKUB head Maratua Simanjuntak concurred, saying the attack on the church had nothing to do with religion.

Maratua emphasized the incident was purely a criminal act because the perpetrator was not motivated by a religious belief and had not acted on behalf of a particular religion. “We believe it was just a crime committed against a priest,” said Maratua.

Maratua asked the police to immediately investigate the crime so the issue could become clearer.

The suspect in the attack on the church located on Jl. Dr. Mansur, Ivan Armadi Hasugian, 17 (not 18 as previously reported), is alleged to have tried unsuccessfully to detonate an explosive device he was carrying in a backpack.

The perpetrator then attacked the priest, Albertus Pandiangan, who was delivering a sermon, with an axe and a knife.

Albertus suffered an injury to his left arm but his assailant was restrained by members of the congregation, a home-made IS symbol was later found in Ivan’s possession.

Albertus said he was the target of the attack. “He ran toward me at the pulpit. I kept thinking he was carrying a bomb so I tried to avoid him,” said Albertus, whose injury required stitches. He added that he had forgiven the perpetrator. “I don’t have any grudge against him and have forgiven him,” he said.

However, Albertus emphasized that the legal process must continue so that such an incident could serve as a lesson in the future and no longer occur in other houses of worship.

“The legal process must continue and be investigated thoroughly so that the incident can serve as a lesson and never happen again in the future,” said Albertus.

Besides forgiving him, Albertus expressed the hope that the perpetrator would repent and take the right path. “Hopefully, he will immediately repent,” he said.

Activities at the church returned to normal on Tuesday after police completed investigating the crime scene.

St. Yosep Catholic Church pastoral council head Benar Ginting said shortly after police had completed their investigation and reopened the building that the church would urge its members not to be afraid to worship at the church.

“We will talk to our congregation and tell them not to be afraid to come to church to perform devotional activities as usual,” said Benar.

He added that after the attack, the church had requested the Medan Police to provide personnel to assist with security at the church.

Meanwhile, National Police spokesperson Brig. Gen. Agus Rianto said on Tuesday that the police would refer to the 2012 Law on the juvenile justice system in processing the case. Ivan turns 18 in October this year. According to Agus, the police’s counter-terrorism squad Densus 88 has named Ivan a suspect and he is now being detained and questioned by them.

Agus explained that although Ivan was facing terrorist charges, the police would comply with the juvenile justice system in order to respect the perpetrator’s rights as a minor.

“We are hunting the mastermind who ordered him [Ivan] to carry out the terrorist attack,” said Agus. “We have questioned his parents and will question more people to get further details.”