Another violation of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) has occurred. A Protestant Christian worship service held at a prayer house in Padang Sarai, Padang Sarai Subdistrict, Koto Tangah District, Padang City, on Sunday afternoon (27 July 2025), was forcibly dispersed by a group of individuals.
According to videos circulating after the incident, several men vandalized property and intimidated members of the Anugrah Padang congregation of the Indonesian Christian Church of Faithfulness (GKSI) who were participating in the worship service. Based on reports from the media and SETARA Institute’s local partners, several properties sustained severe damage: chairs were destroyed, tables overturned, the house fence was dismantled, and windows were shattered. Inside the prayer house, preparations for the worship service were left scattered after being deliberately ransacked by the attackers.
First, SETARA Institute strongly condemns this violation of freedom of religion or belief, as well as the acts of intolerance and violence against a religious minority in Padang. Such actions are unacceptable and clearly constitute criminal acts that violate both the law and the Constitution.
Second, SETARA Institute urges state authorities, particularly the local government, not to be permissive or oversimplify this incident of intolerance and violence as merely the result of a misunderstanding. Instead, the local government—particularly in Padang and more broadly in West Sumatra—must address the root causes of intolerance and violations of freedom of religion or belief, including religious conservatism, low levels of religious literacy, social segregation, discriminatory regulations, and the normalization of religious intolerance at both the structural and cultural levels.
In this regard, law enforcement authorities must also immediately initiate legal proceedings against those responsible for these criminal acts. Effective law enforcement is expected to provide a deterrent effect for perpetrators while delivering justice for the victims. Conversely, the absence of legal accountability serves as an invitation for repeated crimes against religious minorities and other vulnerable groups.
Third, SETARA Institute urges the Central Government not to remain silent in the face of the growing number of intolerance cases and violations of freedom of religion or belief. More than six months into President Prabowo Subianto’s administration, incidents of intolerance have become increasingly frequent. To date, however, the Central Government has largely remained silent. The President, the Minister of Religious Affairs, the Minister of Home Affairs, the Pancasila Ideology Development Agency (BPIP), and other relevant ministries and state institutions have shown little concern or support for the victims. This silence may be interpreted by intolerant groups as a “green light,” encouraging them to further express religious intolerance and conservatism, even through the use of violence. In this context, intolerance will continue to spread, undermining social cohesion, social capital, and the stability of Indonesia’s pluralistic society.
Media Contact:
Halili Hasan, Executive Director, SETARA Institute, +62 852 3000 8880