Administrative Dispute Stalls Church Construction in Surabaya, Indonesia

Construction of a proposed church in the Dukuh Kukun area of Surabaya, Indonesia, has been halted following protests from local Muslim residents. Opponents of the project argue that the building permit contains an administrative error, noting that the address listed on the official documentation does not match the intended site within the CitraLand housing complex. Specifically, residents point out that the permit was issued for Neighborhood Unit (RT) 7, while the construction is planned for RT 1.

Local residents have expressed opposition to the project since 2013, and a protest was held on August 14 to demand a resolution regarding the permit discrepancy. Conversely, attorney Hartony Edi maintains that the Building Permit (IMB) remains valid, asserting that a minor administrative error does not invalidate a state-issued decision. Edi stated that the permit was granted by the mayor of Surabaya in accordance with the 2006 Joint Decree of the Minister of Religious Affairs and the Minister of Home Affairs. He has called for the dispute to be resolved through government-supervised deliberation to ensure the project proceeds legally.