Markus Junianto Sihaloho – Lawmakers used a House of Representatives plenary on Monday to call for a special meeting with the government to discuss the issue of the GKI Yasmin church in Bogor.

The church is embroiled in a dispute with the Bogor Mayor Diani Budiarto, who has refused to abide by a Supreme Court verdict that ordered him to lift a ban on the church that is in a residential area.

Maruarar Sirait, from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), said the problem afflicting the church was due to the inability of the state to guarantee its members' rights to freedom of worship.

"I demand that a discussion of this problem be scheduled immediately," Maruarar said. The House had scheduled a meeting to discuss the issue, but the ministries that had been invited demanded a postponement.

Maruarar said it was imperative for the House to discuss the church's problem and settle it so that the body could "become the pioneer in the protection of the freedom of religion that is guaranteed by the Constitution."

Golkar Party lawmaker Nusron Wahi argued that it would be strange if the legislature allowed a disrespect of Supreme Court rulings to take place. "Our Constitution clearly provides for the protection of the rights of worship for every citizen," he said.

Radical Islamic groups are pressuring the church's congregation to worship elsewhere. Since 2008, the members have been forced to hold their Sunday services on the sidewalk outside the church, but radical groups have continued to harass them.