How Christians are Being Persecuted in Indonesia

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
of Indonesia

Indonesia a Moslem country located in the South East Asia has continued to intensify its persecution effort of the Christian minorities despite spirited cry by the people, as the Islamist hardliners in Bekasi are out to stop the spread of the gospel.


In a report by the Release International (RI) www.releaseinternational.org it noted that the Islamist hardliners are using fighting talk about the 'Christianization' of Bekasi, amid rising interfaith tensions in the city.

“Nine Islamic groups meeting in the West Javan city have reportedly joined forces in a campaign to prepare local mosques to 'wage war’ on the growing Christian influence in the city,” it said.

RI said that the group is recommending that each local mosque should form its own laskar or 'paramilitary unit' to enforce Sharia - a strict Islamic practices on local Muslims adding that they’re insisting that the Bekasi administration's policymaking should reflect this code.

According to the report the hardliners said they are reacting to what they see as a concerted attempt by the church to extend its reach in Bekasi, a commuter city for Jakarta and that the mass baptisms of Christians who were raised as Muslims are cited as a particular issue for concern.

It stated: “On June 20, the Pondok Timur Indah Church in Mustika Jaya subdistrict was shut down. A spokesman for the mayor of Bekasi confirmed that the church closure was a response to demands from Islamist hardliners, who had declared the church 'illegal'. A church-run school in Bekasi was attacked last month, after blasphemy allegations against a 16-year-old blogger.”

It observed that the church leaders are now calling on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to defend the Christian minority in the face of mounting intimidation.

“Praise God that the church in Bekasi appears to be thriving. Ask Him to protect His people in this city. Also pray against moves to revive religious tensions in a nation still recovering from conflict fuelled by jihadists,” the report added.

Release International is a United Kingdom based Registered Charity. The organization serves persecuted Christians in 30 countries around the world by supporting pastors and Christian prisoners, and their families through its international network of missions. It supplies Christian literature and Bibles and also works for justice.

For more information on them visit their website: www.releaseinternational.org Or log on to the Persecuted Church Blog: http://churchpersecution.blogspot.com