ASSIST News Service (ANS), Saturday, August 27, 2005
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 s!
tage 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.
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John M. Lindner is a missionary writer with 25 years experience and now heads World
Christian Ministries with a goal of publishing a new World Christian magazine
depicting the tribulation and triumph of missionaries of the two-thirds world.
www.WorldChristianMinistries.org.
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