As police officers looked on, a group of Muslims on Sunday (July 27) stormed a prayer house in Indonesia, injuring two children, sources said.
The Muslims shouted the jihadist slogan “Allahu Akbar [God is Greater]” and “Dismiss it” as they disrupted state mandated religious education for children provided by Anugerah Faithful Christian Church of Indonesia (Gereja Kristen Setia Indonesia, GKSI) in Padang City, West Sumatra Province at around 4 p.m., a widely viewed video shows.
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Armed with wooden blocks, knives and stones, the intruders damaged property inside and outside the prayer house where religious instruction was underway for children who could not receive it in school. Panicked students and their parents rushed outside as children cried. A voice from within the congregation can be heard saying, “Our country is a Pancasila state [policy of unity and social justice for all of Indonesia’s various people] based on law and must be carried out according to law.”
Two Christian students, ages 7 and 11, were severely injured after the assailants struck them, according to the video. Sound system equipment, chairs, fans, a pulpit podium, window panes and other items were damaged.
Angry mob
The pastor of the church, F. Dachi, said the attack occurred suddenly while several children were receiving the religious instruction. The mob of angry Muslims had gathered on the street in front of the prayer house, shouting and demanding a stop to the teaching, shocking the pastor who was outside the building at the time, according to Sumbarkita.id.
“The crowd immediately shouted, ‘Dismiss! Dismiss the religious instruction!’ and began throwing stones at the prayer house,” Pastor Dachi said. “Glass was shattered, equipment was destroyed, and the electricity was cut off.”
The head of 03 Neighborhood Associations (Rukun Tetangga) and the head of the 09 Community Association (RW) asked to speak with him in a backyard, though there no details about the discussion, reported BBC.com.
The attack and vandalism followed Islamic afternoon prayer time (Asr) by local Muslims.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written and originally published by Morning Star News.
