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World News

One dead in religious clashes in Indonesia

by Hannah Tooley

Three churches are thought to have been attacked in Aceh, west Indonesia, amidst religious tensions.

It has been reported that hundreds of Muslim men attacked and set alight to two churches and one man was killed in a clash at a third church where Christians were thought to be defending a public building.

Christian Today has said that the fighting follows a protest last week where a group, Aceh Youth Concerned For Islam, demanded that unlicensed churches were torn down.

The local government had agreed to respond to their demands, but some did not think this answer came fast enough, and the group acted on their own behalf.

Husein Hamidi, Aceh Police Chief told AFP that: "After burning the church, the mob tried to attack another church, but it turned out Christians were already at the ready.

"A clash occurred, and one man was killed after being shot in the head with an air rifle."

It has been reported that the man who was killed was from one of the groups opposed to the churches.

Four others were injured, including a police officer.

Aceh is the only province in Indonesia where Sharia Law has been officially introduced.

Religious tension has been on the rise there as it is being reported that the laws are being imposed on people of other faiths in the region.

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