Amir Tejo – Dozens of villagers demolished an auditorium on Tuesday night that was being used for Koran recital activities by a hardline Islamic group in Mojokerto, East Java.

Residents from Balongwono village said the auditorium was being used by the Indonesian Islamic Propagation Institute (LDII) as a mosque, which was in violation of an agreement the Mojokerto chapter of LDII had made with the villagers.

"They agreed that the auditorium would not be used as a mosque, but then they violated the agreement," said Ali Mustofa, a Balongwono resident, adding that the auditorium was being used by a gathering of 15 LDII followers.

Villagers have asked the LDII followers to use the village mosque, which has enough space to accommodate all worshippers, and not to use the auditorium as a separate mosque.

"We want to live in harmony and we don't want them to create a separate group from us in terms of conducting sholat [Muslim prayers]," Ali said.

LDII member Kholik said he was saddened by Tuesday's incident, and said the auditorium was only being used for Koran recital and not as a mosque.

However, Ali said that three months before the holy month of Ramadan last year, LDII followers had managed to build the foundations of a mosque within the auditorium, but villagers were quick to discover the construction and put a stop to it. Finally, both sides agreed the construction would end.

Ali added that LDII congregational leaders had signed an agreement with the residents in the village office. But two months after the signing, they had still continued to use the auditorium for Koran recitals.