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Indonesian Muslims call for halt to ’Christianization’

Muslim groups in Indonesia are calling for an end to Christianization in the region, reports Michael Ireland, chief correspondent, ASSIST News Service.

According to the national Antara news agency cited by Compass Direct News, Muslim organizations in Bekasi, West Java, on Sunday (June 27) declared their intention to establish paramilitary units in local mosques and a “mission center” to oppose “ongoing attempts to convert people to Christianity.”

Compass Direct News cites a report in The Jakarta Post newspaper which says that at a gathering at the large Al Azhar mosque, the leaders of nine organizations announced the results of a June 20 meeting of the Bekasi Islamic Congress, where they agreed to establish a mission center to halt “Christianization,” form a Laskar Pemuda youth army, and push for the implementation of sharia (Islamic law) in the region.

“If the Muslims in the city can unite, there will be no more story about us being openly insulted by other religions,” Ahmad Salimin Dani, head of the Bekasi Islamic Missionary Council, announced at the gathering.

“The center will ensure that Christians do not act out of order,” he said.

Observing an increasing number of house churches, Muslim organizations have accused Bekasi Christians of aggressive proselytizing, Compass Direct News said.

However, the Rev. Simon Timorason of the West Java Christian Communication Forum (FKKB) told Compass that most Christians in the area do not proselytize, and meet only in small home fellowships due to the lack of officially recognized worship venues.

Many Christian seminary graduates prefer to remain on Java rather than relocate to distant islands, Timorason added, making West Java the ideal place to launch new home-based fellowships for different denominations.

Timorason said that neighbors see only the multiplication of churches, and therefore suspect Muslims are converting to Christianity.

“The ideal solution is to have one building with a permit to be used by different denominations in each housing complex,” Timorason said.

“If every denomination wants their own church in the same area, it’s a problem.”

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TAGS: Indonesia Christianization Muslim organizations Islamic law persecution freedom of religion

[07/06/2010]

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