Indonesia police fire tear gas on Muslims protesting church

[TomSea]

Indonesia police fire tear gas on Muslims protesting church
    By achmad ibrahim and ali kotarumalos, associated press
BEKASI, Indonesia — Mar 24, 2017, 5:57 AM ET

A man throws a rock at police officers during a Muslim hardliner protest against the construction of a Catholic church in Bekasi, Indonesia, Friday, March 24, 2017. Indonesian police fired tear gas to disperse the protesters as they tried to force their way into the Santa Clara church, which has been under construction since November. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

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

Several hundred protesters from a group called Forum for Bekasi Muslim Friendship staged a rowdy demonstration 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 site.

Raymundus Sianipar, a Catholic priest, said police asked him to leave the area for safety reasons.

Continued: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/indonesia-police-fire-tear-gas-muslims-protesting-church-46344923

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