Photo from AsiaNews

Threats increase against followers of Christ in Indonesia

Voice of the Martyrs Canada joins their concerns with reports coming out of Indonesia from Compass Direct and AsiaNews, reports MNN.

Christians in Bekasi, West Java have faced growing opposition in recent months from Muslims opposed to "Christianization."

Church services throughout the city have been interrupted and Christians threatened. There is also a push for sharia law in the region.

Opposition seems to have the stamp of approval from the government, too. According to the reports from CDN and AsiaNews, the Bekasi Islamic Congress set up a "mission center" last month along with a youth army to oppose Christian efforts.

Death threats are on the rise, too. Last Monday, a banner with the picture of a Christian man with a noose around his neck was hung on the front of a mosque in Bekasi, stating, "This man deserves the death penalty."

The picture was of 29-year-old Andreas Sanau, one of two men accused of organizing mass baptisms. The false accusations came after busloads of poor villagers arrived at a Christian relief agency on June 30 as part of an outreach program.

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TAGS: Indonesia threats Christians persecution anti-Christian violence sharia law death penalty

[07/15/2010]

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