A cross-shaped mosaic has been painted over following complaints of two Muslim groups

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The government of the Indonesian city of Surakarta caved in to pressure and erased a mosaic, which some critics argued was shaped like a cross. The administration of the central Java’s city, home of more than 3.5 million people, had received multiple complaints from Muslim Troops (LUIS) and the Surakarta Syariah Council (DSKS). These associations have questioned over time the design of the mosaic, which from above resembles a Christian cross, and demanded the council to review it.

According to the Straits Times, LUIS spokesman Endro Sudarsono said: “We’ve asked the Surakarta administration to evaluate and replace the cross-like mosaic with other motifs so as not to cause controversy and sectarian disputes.” The local council initially tried to shrug off the complaints, arguing the cross didn't represent Christianity. Mayor FX Hadi Rudyatmo, who is Catholic, said his administration never planned to have a cross-shaped road mosaic in front of his office. READ MORE: CHRISTIANITY CRACKDOWN: Fury as churches SHUT DOWN due to RED TAPE

Christianity is Indonesia's second largest religion after Islam

And his deputy, Achmad Purnomo, said the mosaic was actually inspired by keraton (royalty) symbols of the Surakarta Sultanate, which has been designed by a Muslim. However, the council decided to cover the mosaic on January 19 to avoid “dragging on” the debate. Mr Purnomo said: “The administration has met with several religious leaders and came up with a number of solutions. “But to prevent the polemic from dragging on, we decided to cover the mosaic with paint.”

Three churches were the target of a suicide attack in May last year

Christianity is Indonesia’s second largest religion after Islam. However, Christians have been the target of violence and discriminations in the country. In 2006 three Catholic citizens in Sulawesi have been executed by a firing squad after being accused of leading riots in nearby Poso six years earlier - but human right activists raised doubts the men had been the masterminds of the turmoil. In 2011 Muslim rioters vandalised Protestant and Catholic churches, schools, and other property in Temanggung, Central Java.

Four people died in the Surabaya attack