Mob burns church in Indonesia for Islam offense

An angry mob burned a church and several houses in the central region of Indonesia's Moluccas islands, injuring two people, after a local Christian teacher offended Islam, police said on Tuesday.

The Moluccas, in the eastern part of predominantly Muslim Indonesia, has a substantial Christian population.

Some parts of the Moluccas were hit by separatist, communal, and religious tension after former President Suharto stepped down in 1998. A peace pact to resolve the conflict was signed in 2002, and while there has been sporadic violence since then, the area remains relatively peaceful.

A police spokesman said the conflict erupted on Tuesday after the teacher at a school in Letwaru village, a predominantly Muslim area, allegedly "stained Islam." He did not give details.

"People burned houses, a church, and blockaded a road and hit two people at a market this morning," said Johanis Huwae, Maluku provincial police spokesman, adding that the police have detained the teacher.

In May, a church in West Java had to be put under constant guard by police after it was stormed by hard-liners.

The Jakarta Post newspaper said that more than 30 churches have had to close their doors in West Java since 2004 because of attacks.

Dozens of churches have also been forced to close in other provinces, added.

According to a current decree by the Indonesian religious affairs ministry, houses of worship must obtain the approval of at least 60 percent of local residents and have at least 90 followers to be able to operate.

About 85 percent of Indonesia's 226 million people are Muslims but, in some parts of the eastern islands, Christians make up roughly half the population.

People burned houses, a church, and blockaded a road and hit two people at a market this morning

Johanis Huwae, police spokesman