Indonesia police fire tear gas on Muslims protesting construction of church

Witnesses said police fired tear gas as the protesters tried to force their way into the church, which has been under construction since November.

Indonesian police fired tear gas to disperse hard-line Muslims protesting against the construction of a Catholic church in a satellite city of the capital Jakarta.

Police officers clash with Muslim hardliners during a protest against the construction of a Catholic church in Bekasi, Indonesia. (AP Photo)

Several hundred protesters from a group called Forum for Bekasi Muslim Friendship demonstrated in front of the Santa Clara church in Kaliabang, a neighborhood of Bekasi city, after Friday prayers.

Witnesses said police fired tear gas as the protesters tried to force their way into the church, which has been under construction since November. Some also threw rocks and bottles into the 6,500-square-meter site.

Ismail Ibrahim, a cleric and organizer of the protest, said they would not disperse until authorities met their demand to cancel the church’s construction permit.