Indonesian police refrain from detaining three suspects in church service disruption case

Authorities in Indonesia's Yogyakarta Special Region (DIY) have opted not to detain three individuals suspected of disrupting a church service in Bantul in May 2026. The suspects, identified by the initials D (47), BS (54), and AH (55), were named in mid-August and have been cooperating with police inquiries.

Kombes Ihsan, the Head of Public Relations for the DIY Regional Police, stated that the suspects' consistent cooperation during their questioning as witnesses and later as suspects led investigators to decide against detention, in accordance with the Criminal Code. He stressed that the investigation into the alleged disruption of the Gereja Misi Sejahtera (GMS) church service is actively progressing.

Ihsan asserted that the handling of this case demonstrates the police's commitment to protecting all religious activities within the DIY region. He assured that the investigation is being conducted professionally and in adherence to applicable laws. The police urged all parties to respect the ongoing legal process and to collectively maintain a secure and conducive community environment.

The suspects face charges related to acts against religious life, beliefs, and places of worship, as stipulated in the Criminal Code. The incident occurred on a Sunday morning in May 2026 at a building used as a church in the Glugo area of Sewon, Bantul. Local authorities indicated that objections to the service came from a community organization questioning the building's permit status for religious activities. GMS officials reported that the disruption, allegedly carried out by the Laskar Forum Jihad Islam (FJI) DIY, left children in the congregation traumatized and involved intimidation.