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Banten mayor in hot water for opposing church construction
Rights advocates and a religious tolerance official have lambasted a Banten mayor's decision to back a public petition against the construction of a church in Cilegon, where Christians are a minority.
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Stock image of barrier tape. (Pixabay/-)
T
he Cilegon mayor’s decision to refuse the proposed construction of a church in the city in Banten, a province widely known for its 16th century Islamic sultanate, has sparked widespread criticism from rights groups that have called the decision “unconstitutional” and contravening the human right to religious freedom.
The controversy was sparked when Cilegon Mayor Helldy Agustian, in response to a demonstration held last week by a group calling itself the Cilegon City Local Wisdom Defender Committee, signed a petition to ban the proposed construction of Maranatha church in Grogol district.
The new church is designated to be part of the Congregation of Batak Protestant Churches (HKBP).
Cilegon Deputy Mayor Sanuji Pentamarta also reportedly signed the petition.
Helldy told reporters on Saturday that he had signed the petition to “fulfill the wishes of the people of Cilegon”.
The following day, human rights watchdog Imparsial said in a statement that in opposing the church construction proposal, Helldy had discriminated against the city’s minority Christians.
“[Imparsial] urges regional heads to stop the politics of [making] policies that give special privileges only to a certain group,” said Imparsial’s Gufron Mabruri, as quoted by Kompas.
