JEMBER, Indonesia – A mob attacked a Muslim school in East Java late Friday (April 20th), angry over teachings that condemn area practices, local media reported.

"Hundreds" of residents of Karang Tengah in East Java's Jember Regency attacked Pondok Pesantren Terbuka Ma'had Al Robbaniy with sticks and rocks, breaking windows and damaging the roof, a Tempo report said.

School officials have criticised practices such as tahlil, the recitation of prayers after a death that is practiced by most Muslims on Java, as un-Islamic. In response, local residents have demanded the school be shut down.

Police and local religious affairs officials brought the two sides together in an attempt to mediate the dispute earlier on Friday and announced that the school would be closed for two weeks during further study of the matter.

"We regret this incidence of vandalism, because all parties were engaged in mediation concerning this issue," said Halim Subahar, head of the Jember chapter of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), according to Republika Online.