CBN.com, Saturday, September 3, 2005
Indonesian Christians Sentenced to Jail
By Jay Esteban
CBN Asia
CWNews.com – Three Indonesian women are going to jail for holding Christian
services at a local school. The women's defense team argued that the services were
intended only for Christian students. Nevertheless, the court convicted the three
mothers of trying to convert Muslim children. This is happening on the island of Java,
in the town of Indramyu. The court sentenced Eti, Ratna and Rebecca to 3 years
imprisonment and a fine of $158.
The Indonesian Council of Mullahs accused the 3 Indonesian women of proselytizing
Muslim children, which is a violation of the Child Protection Act. Posma Manahan is
the women's legal counsel. He says the court's verdict was based not on the law but
out of the judges’ concerns for the women's safety – and their own.
Manahan told me, "We do not agree with the decision, because none of the charges
against the women were proven. None of the children changed religion. None of them
were forced to attend the Happy Week program. There were no direct witnesses. I
believe the judges were threatened and intimidated."
Hundreds of Islamic radicals gathered, daily, outside the courthouse during the
4-month hearing, demanding that Eti, Ratna and Rebecca be put to death.
On the day the verdict was announced, the Islamic radicals even brought a coffin –
threatening to take the law into their own hands if the judges set the women free.
Local Christians say that the passion shown by the Muslim extremists shows the
lengths they will go to, in their desire to establish an Islamic state.
Despite the bleak outcome of the trial, Eti, Ratna and Rebecca are in high spirits.
They said they rejoice because they have led one fellow prisoner to Christ. And as
much as they want to go home, they believe that the extra time they will now have to
spend in prison can be used to lead others to Christ.
Rebecca Loanita is a medical doctor and the mother of 3 children. She said, "We
remain strong in the faith. We are not afraid because we believe that there is a greater
purpose of God."
The defense lawyers have been only given one week to make an appeal to the higher
court. This is a crucial decision for them to make. Because, while the verdict for Eti,
Ratna and Rebecca can be overturned, the possibility also exists that the 3 women
will get a longer sentence — which is usually the case for most Christians facing trial
in Indonesia.
© Copyright 2005. The Christian Broadcasting Network.
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