(Yogyakarta) A Muslim
group in Indonesia have forced the cancellation of a Reformation celebration
event, saying they were plotting to convert Muslims to Christianity.
The Reformed Evangelical Church of Indonesia had organised an open-air service at a football stadium in the city of Yogyakarta. Which was supposed to be one of 17 major events to be held in Indonesian cities to mark 500 years since the Reformation began in October 1517, which resulted in the split with Rome by Protestants.
However, the event was scrapped after the Forum Ukhuwah
Islamiyah (FUI), an arm of the Indonesian Ulema Council, wrote to stadium
officials calling on them not to allow the gathering, saying it was an attempt
to Christianize Muslims. They also threatened to disrupt the service if it went
ahead.The Reformed Evangelical Church of Indonesia has issued a statement:
"For the shake of interreligious harmony … and to avoid acts of intolerance, the committee decided to call off the national prayer service to mark 500 years of Reformation,"
Police rejected the claim that hardliner pressure forced the
cancellation of the service. Saying the event did not go ahead because
organizers did not have a permit to stage it.
