Tangerang. A worship service held by a Christian congregation in Tangerang, Banten, was disrupted by a group of residents who demanded that the venue be closed, with footage of the incident circulating widely on social media.

The incident occurred Sunday at a rented house in Mekar Sari village, Rajeg district, that was being used as a place of worship by members of the Indonesian Protestant Christian Church (GKPI), according to police.

Videos circulating online show residents confronting worshippers and demanding that the venue be shut down because they said it lacked the required permits. The confrontation allegedly included threats involving a machete.

A man identified as Aji Cahyono, who was seen brandishing a machete during the incident, later issued a public apology, saying he had acted out of anger and had been carrying the weapon after cutting grass.

The incident comes amid ongoing debates in Indonesia over permits and requirements for places of worship, particularly when congregations use residential properties or other buildings for religious services.

Rajeg police chief Yono Taryono confirmed the incident but said the location was a rented house being used for worship rather than a church building.

“Regarding the incident, it occurred at a place of worship, not a church,” Yono said Monday.

Police and local authorities mediated between the two sides on Sunday night, with both parties agreeing to settle the dispute peacefully.

Tangerang police chief Kombes Pol Indra Waspada said the agreement also called for the local government to find a temporary place of worship for the congregation while the permit process for the current venue is resolved.

“The most important thing is to maintain harmony and public security,” Indra said.

He said police would continue coordinating with local authorities, community and religious leaders, the Tangerang chapter of the Interfaith Harmony Forum (FKUB) and other stakeholders.

Authorities urged residents not to be provoked by unverified information and to respect the agreement reached by both sides.

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