International Christian Concern, October 7, 2005
Indonesian Authorities Nearly Capture Bali Bomber Yet Ignore
Violent Attacks on Christians and Churches
Contact: Jeff King, of International Christian Concern, 301-989-1708,
icc@persecution.org
WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 /Christian Wire Service/ -- The Washington-DC based human
rights group, International Christian Concern (ICC) www.persecution.org has been
informed that Indonesian authorities narrowly missed capturing Noordin Mohamed
Top, today. Top is one of the two primary suspects in the most recent Bali bombing.
He and the other suspect, Azahari Husin, are members of the regional al-Qaida-linked
group, Jemaah Islamiyah.
Indonesian authorities have shown dogged determination in tracking down Islamic
fundamentalists that cross the line into violence and threaten the security of the
State. While this is commendable, we find the Indonesian government's response to
lesser threats from fundamentalist Islam not so encouraging.
The majority of Indonesia's Muslims are moderate and have a long history of peaceful
co-existence with Christians, Hindus, and Bud! dhists. Yet, in the 1990s, Indonesia's
brand of peaceful, tolerant Islam began to be infiltrated by Saudi-funded Wahabbi style
Islam via the likes of Jemaah Islamiyah. This has led to an expected radicalization of
the Muslim population that has been as disturbing as it has been lethal. From 1998 to
2002 it is estimated that 10,000 Christians were murdered, 80,000 Christian homes
destroyed and 1,000 Churches burned down.
International Christian Concern's files are full of pictures of the horrors of these times.
They include many pictures of fundamentalist Muslims standing around the severed
heads of Christian families that were stopped at roadblocks and decapitated after the
discovery they were Christian. All this happened with little regard from the outside
world. When they did report on the horrors, reporters described them as "sectarian
violence" or some other fairly innocuous phrase.
While the Indonesian government is very aggressive and focused on dealing wi! th
Muslim violence that threatens the State, they ignore (or worse) Islamic hatred and
violence targeted at Christians across their archipelago that does not threaten the
State.
The two most recent examples are the arrest and conviction of three Indonesian
Christian housewives for teaching Sunday school to Muslim children (with the parent's
consent). Additionally, there is the closure of 60 Christian Churches in the just the
last two months as well as government restrictions on the opening and operations of
Christian Churches.
We ask all concerned individuals to sign our petition to the Indonesian government
protesting these closings. The petition can be found at
https://app.etapestry.com/hosted/InternationalChristianConcer/OnlineSignupTwo.html.
It is the first petition listed "petition Indonesia".
ICC is a Washington-DC based human rights organization t! hat exists to help
persecuted Christians worldwide. ICC delivers humanitarian aid, trains and supports
persecuted pastors, raises awareness in the US regarding the problem of persecution,
and is an advocate for the persecuted on Capitol Hill and the State Department. For
additional information or for an interview, contact ICC at 800-422-5441.
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