I am using xampp to test out some php code.

In the main project directory, I have the following .htaccess file:

RewriteEngine on

#Index
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} ^/$  
RewriteRule request_handler.php [L]

#php files
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f [OR]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} ^.*(\.php)$
RewriteRule . request_handler.php [L]

#Blocked files. PHP blocked files should be specified in request_handler.php
<Files "setup.json">
    Order Allow,Deny
    Deny from all
</Files>
<Files "testimonials.json">
    Order Allow,Deny
    Deny from all
</Files>

#CACHE CONTROLL FOR STATIC RESOURSES
<FilesMatch "\.(jpg|jpeg|png|gif|swf)$">
    Header set Cache-Control "max-age=2592000, public"
</FilesMatch>

Anyhow, I am getting an unexpected 403 forbidden in all my requests. If I remove the first line of the .htaccess file though, I stop getting that unsuspected behavior.

Does anyone know what might be causing this error?

UPDATE I have created a new .htaccess file, that only contains one line: RewriteEngine On and I still get the error. (If I remove that line, I stop getting the error). The sole presence of that line causes the error.