Viral Disbandment of GMS Worship Service in Bantul, Sultan HB X: No Party is Entirely Right

A video circulating on social media depicts the alleged forceful disbandment of a Christian worship service in the Glugo area of Bantul, Indonesia, sparking public attention and discussion.

The incident, reportedly involving members of the Gereja Kristen Misi Sejahtera (GMS) congregation on Sunday, May 24, 2026, was shared on Instagram. The video shows a crowd gathered at a building identified as the GMS worship location. The accompanying narrative claims forceful dispersal and alleged violence by certain individuals.

Yulius Suharta, Acting Head of the Bantul National Unity and Politics Agency (Kesbangpol), confirmed the incident. He stated that police visited the site to examine the building used by the congregation. The GMS congregation had been renting hotel rooms for their services but recently began using a new building in Glugo, located near the South Ring Road.

This new location faced opposition from a community organization that questioned the building's legality and permits for use as a place of worship. Suharta indicated that authorities would discuss the matter with the Regent and Forkopimda (Regional Leadership Communication Forum) to decide on a course of action. He noted that while GMS possesses a Letter of Notification (SKTL), its validity concerning the use of the building as a place of worship requires further scrutiny.