CV NEWS FEED // A mob of Muslim residents attacked a group of Pamulang University students who were conducting a traditional house-to-house rosary service on the outskirts of the capital city of Jakarta.
Two young women in the group of 12 were injured in the attack, which took place on May 5 while they were inside a home in Benten province, a suburb of Jakarta, that was part of the house-to-house praying of the rosary, according to a local UCA News report. A Muslim man who came to their defense was also assaulted.
Catholics in Indonesia traditionally pray the rosary from house to house in May and October.
One of the young women in the report testified that a Muslim man belonging to the neighborhood’s residential association “objected to the prayer service,” telling the students: “If you want to pray, please go to church, like we Muslims worship in the mosque.”
The man allegedly left briefly, then returned with a mob who attacked the students.
“The victims were saved from further harm only because other Muslims came to their rescue,” the report added.
Siprianus Edi Hardum, a lawyer for the students, said in a press statement that the mob attacked the students armed with “sharp objects such as long machetes, sickles, and even blocks.”
“Anyone is free to carry out their worship,” he said. “People who disturb people who are praying are considered pests (destroyers) of the country, destroyers of Indonesia as a democratic country.”
Four men have been arrested in connection with the attacks so far. “In a series of case proceedings, we concluded that there was sufficient evidence so they were named suspects,” South Tangerang police chief Ibnu Bagus Santosa said in a press conference on May 7.
