(http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/pb-130321-bekasi-da-01.photoblog600.jpg)Palti Panjaitan / ReutersMembers of the congregation of Batak Christian Protestant Church (HKBP) cry as an excavator demolishes their church in Bekasi, on the outskirts of Jakarta, Indonesia on March 21, 2013. (http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/pb-130321-bekasi-da-04.photoblog600.jpg)Adek Berry / AFP - Getty ImagesAn Indonesian civilian policeman takes photographs while an excavator demolishes an under-construction building of the Taman Sari Batak Christian Protestant Church in Bekasi on March 21, 2013. (http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/pb-130321-bekasi-da-03.380;380;7;70;0.jpg)Adek Berry / AFP - Getty ImagesPolice watch while an excavator demolishes the church building on March 21, 2013. Agence France-Presse reports — An Indonesian city government demolished a church in front of its weeping congregation on Thursday (http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/130321/indonesian-city-tears-down-church-front-worshippers), as Muslim protesters egged on workers and branded the Christians "infidels."
The local government had ordered the demolition of the church for being built, in October 2012, without a legal permit.
However the congregation said the permit was repeatedly and unfairly rejected after they had spent 13 years worshipping at the site unopposed in a temporary shelter. Read the full story (http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/130321/indonesian-city-tears-down-church-front-worshippers).(http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/pb-130321-bekasi-da-05.photoblog600.jpg)Adek Berry / AFP - Getty ImagesA Muslim man gestures during a protest against the Taman Sari Batak Christian Protestant Church on March 21, 2013. Around 100 Christians held a counter rally to demand the government halt the demolition of their church.(http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/pb-130321-bekasi-da-02.photoblog600.jpg)Enny Nuraheni / ReutersMembers of the congregation of Batak Christian Protestant Church sit near the ruins of their church after an excavator demolished it on March 21, 2013. Follow @NBCNewsPictures (https://twitter.com/NBCNewsPictures)
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