Bandung Christmas Protest Tops Twitter Trending Topics
Jakarta. The high profile disruption of a Christmas celebration at Bandung's Sabuga Building in West Java on Tuesday evening (06/12) trended worldwide on Twitter with thousands of netizens taking to the hashtag #BandungIntoleran.
A group identifying itself as the Defenders of Ahlus Sunnah (PAS) forced Christmas celebrations led by Reverend Stephen Tong to end.
As of the early hours of Wednesday, thousands of tweets had been posted using the hashtag.
“Mr. @ridwankamil please have mercy on us minorities... is it not enough to call us KAFIR?” Hendrix Tarihoran wrote on his twitter account.
Another account posted:Pak @ridwankamil kasihani kami minoritas ini... apa belum cukup kami di sebut2 KAFIR ?
#BandungIntoleran pic.twitter.com/y04H5yKbJz— hendrix Tarihoran (@hendrix_And) December 6, 2016
Is there still any place in this world where we can live in diversity without any discrimination towards minority? #BandungIntoleran — AlexisTargaryen (@AlexxMF19) December 7, 2016
Many Muslim users apologized for the incident or compared it to the Dec. 2 mass prayer at the National Monument complex (Monas) in Central Jakarta.
“The Sabuga Building is a public place, it cannot be used for religious activities. [How about] Monas? Main street [of Thamrin]? Not public facilities?” said Alwendy Sumbung’s account.
Gedung Sabuga ITB tempat umum, tidak boleh dipakai acara keagamaan, Monas? Jalan Raya? Bukan tempat umum? #BandungIntoleran
— alwendy sumbung (@aldysumbung) December 6, 2016
PAS had carried banners during the rally which read: "West Java Muslim community asks the celebrations be moved to a designated space, not a public space."
A source within the church committee who asked not to be identified told Beritasatu.com that all permit requirements to hold the services have been fulfilled, including submitting notifications to the government and police.
Public facilities can be used for religious activities if organizers acquire permits from authorities, such as the Dec. 2 mass prayer rally in Central Jakarta which saw hundreds of thousands of Muslims participate in Friday prayers at the National Monument complex.
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