INDONESIA STRUGGLES WITH HUMAN RIGHTS

Saturday, August 27, 2005 

INDONESIA: CHRISTIANS URGE PRAYER FOR INDONESIAN COURT DECISION
As trial ends, Christians worldwide await verdict of judges next Thursday.

By: John M. Lindner
Special to ASSIST News Service 

JAKARTA (ANS) -- As the trial of three Christian women accused of Christianizing Muslim children ended Thursday, Christians urged prayer that the verdict, to be presented next Thursday, would reflect the facts as presented by the defense.

Earlier this year the three women, Dr. Rebecca Laonita, Mrs. Ratna Mala Bangun, and Mrs. Ety Pangesti conducted a “Happy Week” VBS-type program in their homes in the village of Haurgelis, West Java. When Muslim imams heard that Muslim children had attended the meetings, they charged the women with "Christianization" them in violation of the nation’s Child Protection Act of 2002. The women have been held without bail since the end of May. (Pictured: Dr. Rebekkah Loanita Zakaria, Mrs Eti Pangesti, and Mrs. Ratna Bangun jailed in Indonesia - Compass Direct photo).

Since it began in the district court of Indramayu, West Java, the trial has been a stage for Islamic jihad propaganda. Muslim radicals regularly jammed the courtroom and conducted Muslim worship in it, as well as proclaimed their militant propaganda in front of the courthouse. (Pictured: Same women behind bars).

This past week was no different. According to Jeff Hammond, founder and director of Bless Indonesia Today, who attended the court session, Islamic radicals took over the courtroom for more than an hour, during which time they conducted an Islamic worship service and proclaimed messages over a megaphone declaring:
If the three ladies were not found guilty or given a light sentence, then they would bring Islamic justice to bear, shedding their own “sweet-smelling” blood of martyrdom if necessary. (Pictured: Muslims outside the Haurgelis court house display banner that reads “Arrest and imprison perpetrators of apostasizing!)

They would “wipe the smiles off the faces” of the three women, and they would never be forgiven or allowed to return to their village in peace.

That anyone who has stood with and supported the three women shared in their guilt and would share in their punishment.

That they were not afraid of the Christians because Islam is the one and true religion and is far more glorious than Christianity and is backed by the power of Allah. 
Hammond said that the defense reminded the court of the following points:

That some of the [prosecution’s] witnesses named and quoted had not, in fact, showed up, testified, or been sworn in.

That none of the witnesses had actually seen, heard or experienced the Happy Week program, had only presented hearsay reports, and therefore provided no evidence of any wrongdoing. 

That no evidence was presented to prove the charge that the three women had "deliberately lied," "deceived," "forced the children to change religion" or that the children had attended "against their own will" or "without parental consent." 

Conversely, all witnesses, including that of the prosecutor, had said the Muslim children were still Muslims and had never changed their religion. Finally, that the children had attended freely and with parental permission was proved by the photographic evidence showing their parents participating in Happy Week activities.

Therefore the panel of judges should dismiss all charges, find the three ladies not guilty, and release them from prison. 
As soon as the defense finished his summation, the judges stated that the verdict would be announced Thursday, September 1, at 10 a.m. Jakarta time. (Pictured: This panel of three judges will determine the verdict in the case).

Hammond said, “As the radicals began leaving the court some began shouting ‘Allahu akbar’ [God is greater] and ‘Baldy’ of the chief judge, but their minders quickly quieted them and ordered them out and onto the trucks [that had brought them].”

“Now it is time for the intercessors to really go to work, as the judges sit down to make their decision and to write the reasons for their decision,” Hammond told ANS. “Please mobilize people to pray, as these dear sisters in Christ are facing the potential of five years imprisonment, or--if acquitted--the potential of being killed, having their homes burned down and their families attacked. Your urgent prayer support for the ladies at this time would be greatly appreciated.”

Previous releases about the trial in progress can be found on the ANS website and at World Christian Ministries.


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Christians may express their concern by writing directly to the court:
Kepala Kantor
Pengadilan Negeri
Indramayu
Jawa Barat
INDONESIA
Please advocate true justice and the upholding of Indonesian constitutional law. Click here to obtain addresses of Indonesian embassies in English speaking countries.

VIOLENT AND EXTREME ISLAM CONTINUES TO EXPAND DESPITE OFFICIAL CLAIMS OF MODERATION

Strict Islamic Edicts Cause Concern in Indonesia 
By Nancy-Amelia Collins 
Jakarta
22 August 2005



VOA - Aug 22/05 - Indonesia's highest Islamic authority has issued a series of controversial hard-line fatwas, or edicts, causing a rift with the nation's leading religious groups and raising concerns that intolerance is growing in this traditionally moderate Muslim nation. 

The fatwas issued by the Indonesia Ulema Council, or MUI, during its national congress last month describe liberal interpretations of Islam, secularism, and religious pluralism as being against the teachings of Islam.

The 11 fatwas also ban interfaith marriage and prayers performed with people of other faiths. They renew a decades old ban against Ahmadiyah, a Muslim religious movement that started in India in the late 19th century and was brought to Indonesia in 1925.

The government funds the council and appoints its members, most of whom are conservatives. The MUI provides guidance to the world's largest Islamic population, but its edicts are not legally binding.

The recent fatwas have caused a rift between the MUI and the nation's moderate Islamic organizations, including the country's largest, the 40-million strong Nahdlatul Ulama, or NU.

Several leaders from the NU and the country's second largest Muslim organization, Muhammadiyah, are also on the Indonesian Ulema Council. However, they apparently were outnumbered when the fatwas were discussed.

NU Chairman Hasyim Muzadi says his organization does not support the fatwas.

"But of course as a society that lives among other religions, other ideas, of course we are not [in] sympathy and [do not] support this idea, this fatwa," he said.

The MUI's new hard-line stance may have its roots in Indonesia's maturing democracy. The council came into being during the iron-fisted rule of President Suharto, who governed for more than 30 years until his ouster in 1998. But during the Suharto years, the MUI, like other religious, ethnic or political groups, was severely restricted in its actions.

Since then, as Indonesia moved to full democracy, organizations such as the MUI have become more vocal and influential. The conservatives on the council may feel they now have the opportunity to take bolder positions. 

But many Indonesians are cautious about the new edicts. Mr. Hasyim says the NU, like the vast majority of Indonesians, is against hard-line Islam and supports a secular society that respects all religions. 

"We as [a] moderate movement, of course we are against the idea of radicalism, or extreme idea, and also against the terrorism," he said.

Terrorism is a significant concern in Indonesia, which has sizable Christian, Hindu and Buddhist communities. A militant Islamic group called Jemaah Islamiyah has been responsible for a series of bombings that have claimed more than two hundred lives over the past five years - most of attacks have been aimed at foreigners but Christian churches also have been targeted. JI., as it is called, has very little support among Indonesians, but it has been linked to other terrorist groups, including the al-Qaida network. 

There also have been attacks over the years by Muslim youth on bars and restaurants that serve alcohol - which is legal in Indonesia, and in pockets of the country there has been bloody fighting between Christians and Muslims.

Last month, after the fatwas were announced, a mob attacked the spiritual center of the Ahmadiyah movement, which the MUI says is outside the fold of Islam because it does not recognize Muhammad as the last prophet.

The government allows Ahmadiyah followers to practice their beliefs, but bans them from proselytizing.

Abdul Basyith, president of Ahmadiyah, says local authorities did little to stop the mob.

"We are citizens of Indonesia and we have been living in that area more than 20 years very peacefully, and then just suddenly they attack and by that time it seemed to be the local authorities really didn't protect us as should be," he said.

Mr. Abdul says he is concerned religion is being used for political gain by conservatives seeking to take advantage of the government's seeming reluctance to take a stand against hard-line conservatism. 

"What we are afraid is radicalism in the name of religion … for political use, for political gain, whatever. I think it's such a test for this new government," he said.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, known as SBY, was elected last year, but comes from a small political party. Some political analysts think that his lack of support from the country's two major parties may make him reluctant to take a firm position against the MUI's edicts.

"SBY has no interest in formulating a different vision of Islam in order to challenge an Islamic opposition because he needs Islam," said Ulil Abshar Abdallal, the co-founder of the Islamic Liberal Network, a private think tank.

"He needs Islamic support. I think there is a fear of SBY. of Islamic backlash, if he has a strong, or clear, or firm stance toward Islamic radicalism."

Mr. Ulil is a vocal critic of the MUI. He says some clerics are now reading the fatwas during prayers and he fears that could encourage hostility.

He says the NU and Muhammadiyah must strongly oppose this kind of intolerance.

"If major Islamic organizations like the NU and Muhammadiyah do not take any step to change the situation - this mosque being a breeding ground for conservatism - I think in the near future, the whole society could be provoked by these stupid clerics who give weekly ceremony at the mosque to hate other people, even to engage in violence. This is serious," he said.

Indonesia, which has the world's largest Muslim population, has a long tradition of tolerance and moderation. But these latest developments leave many concerned that may be changing. 

UN Warns Polio Outbreak in Indonesia Poses Global Risk 

THERE IS NOT ONE CHRISTIAN NATION ON EARTH WHERE MUSLIMS ARE PERSECUTED.

Yet in most nations where the majority of the population are Muslims, there is systematic government persecution of Christians.

"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."

--Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights--

Christian Conversions - According to the Bible - Can NEVER be forced.

Any Conversion to Christianity which would be "Forced" would NOT be recognized by God. It is in His True and KIND nature, that those who come to Him and choose to believe in Him, must come to Him OF THEIR OWN FREE WILL.



Don't Let anyone tell you that Christians support Forced Conversions.

That is False. True Christianity is NEVER forced.

Core Universal Rights

The right to believe, to worship and witness
The right to change one's belief or religion
The right to join together and express one's belief