Jakarta – The GKI Yasmin church congregation, which has been deprived of its place of worship after its church was sealed off, says it is seeking protection from the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU).

"We have come to ask for protection from the PBNU because we no longer feel comfortable in our worship," GKI Yasmin spokesman Bona Sigalingging said on Tuesday as he met with PBNU chairman Said Aqil Siradj as quoted by tempointeraktif.com.

Since the Bogor Mayor ordered the Yasmin church sealed off due to permit reasons, the congregation has struggled to find a decent place for its worship services. It has often resorted to worshipping on public sidewalks, but has been protested by local residents.

"We are always intimidated and terrorized when we worship on Sundays by certain groups," he said.

Bona reminded that the Supreme Court had ruled in favor of the congregation on the permit dispute, which meant that the Mayor's persistence in keeping the church sealed off was a legal violation. "We ask that the Mayor be legally processed because we have already reported him to the police," he said.

Said Aqil conceded that he did not understand the Mayor's decision and promised to discuss the matter with relevant parties. "I will talk about it with the National Police chief and the President," he said.