"I have assigned my staff in our West Java regional office to handle the case of intimidation targeting a church retreat activity," Pigai noted in his written remarks on Monday.
He stressed that violence against religious activities constitutes a violation of human rights, especially in Indonesia, which upholds the Pancasila ideology and the principle of "Unity in Diversity."
The state is constitutionally required to protect citizens of all faiths in carrying out their religious activities. Hence, any attempt to restrict such rights is unacceptable.
"Religious activities are a human right that the state must guarantee. Every act of intimidation or violence, including forcefully restricting religious activities, should never be justified," Pigai emphasized.
In addition to assigning ministry officials to probe the case, the minister also appealed to the local police to act against the parties involved.
On Friday (June 27), a group of people violently intimidated Christian students attending a church retreat held on a private property in Tangkil Village, Cidahu, Sukabumi, West Java.
As the incident gained widespread attention on social media, it emerged that the violence stemmed from the perpetrators' suspicion that the private property was being used as a place of worship without their authorization.
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Translator: Fath Putra Mulya, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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