Church Holds Service Despite Ban

On Dec. 24, 2025, Muslim leaders insisted on an official ban and pressured a local pastor in West Java province to cancel his church’s planned holiday worship services. Religious and government leaders cited the potential for attacks from radical Islamist groups but could not identify a specific threat. While a public announcement was made that the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day celebrations were canceled, the 70-member church decided to continue their services as planned. “I was indeed under pressure in the video [announcing the ban],” said Pastor Irianto Budy. He added that his congregation has frequently received pressure and threats from Muslim groups. Though the government has made steps to protect minority religious groups, front-line workers report that Indonesia has become more conservatively Islamic in recent years with Islamic extremist groups targeting churches for demonstrations, legal complaints and violence.

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