An update on the three Christian women being persecuted -- er, that is, prosecuted -- in Indonesia. From CNSNews.com, with thanks to Doc Washburn:
(CNSNews.com) - Three Indonesian women sentenced to prison for the "Christianization" of Muslim children have lost their appeal, and observers of the courtroom drama blame Muslim extremists who threatened to kill the judges if they didn't hand down a guilty verdict....The controversy began on May 13 when medical doctor Rebekkah Zakaria and two of her friends were arrested and charged with "Christianization" of several Muslim children who attended their "Happy Week" Sunday school class.
The Muslim children were required to get permission from their parents to attend the class, and those without permission were sent home, according to the women's attorney, Posma Radjaguguk.
The charges were brought by a government-funded council of Muslim clerics. According to the U.S. State Department, the women were charged after community members complained that free pencil boxes and T-shirts were given to the children.
When the trial began on June 30, truckloads of jihadists thronged the district court of Indramayu demanding that Zakaria and her two co-defendants be killed. They reportedly brought coffins to the courthouse to underscore the threat.
"Hang them! Hang them! Hang Rebekkah!" the crowd shouted.
"If Rebekkah asks forgiveness and enters Islam, will you forgive her?" a protest leader asked while shouting through a megaphone.
"No! No! Punish her! Kill Rebekkah! Hang her!" the crowd responded....
On Sept. 1, the three-judge panel declared the women guilty and sentenced them to three years in prison. The courtroom erupted with loud shouts of "Allahu Akbar!" (Allah is Great).
Zakaria along with Mrs Eti Pangesti and Mrs. Ratna Bangun were charged under the controversial Child Protection Act, ratified in 2002. The act forbids the coercion of minors to change their religion. Those convicted face five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Critics consider the act a violation of the Indonesian Constitution, which provides for "all persons the right to worship, according to his or her own religion or belief."
As evidence of "coercion," the prosecutor at the trial presented six church T-shirts. The defendants had given the T-shirts to all 100 children they were taking on a field trip to "Sea World" in Jakarta, including six Muslim children.
The women said they thought having the children wear same-colored shirts would make it easier to keep track of them.
The prosecutor also brought forward children singing as "evidence." The children who had attended "Happy Week" were asked to sing the songs they learned in the class.
When one child sang "Jesus is the vine, we are the branches," Muslims in the courtroom again demanded that the women be killed, according to witnesses and video provided to Cybercast News Service by VOM.
On Nov. 30, the women lost their appeal. "For supporters, this was really distressing," said Jim Jacobson, president of Christian Freedom International. "Either the court was intimidated or something else happened." The women have one appeal left.
"Hang them! Hang them! Hang Rebekkah!" the crowd shouted.
"If Rebekkah asks forgiveness and enters Islam, will you forgive her?" a protest leader asked while shouting through a megaphone.
"No! No! Punish her! Kill Rebekkah! Hang her!" the crowd responded.... ~ DW
Dang.
"Give us Barabbas!"
Now THAT is insecurity.
Oh Mr. Wolfowitz...come out, come out wherever you are...
In this story are more examples of what Islam defines as coercion, corruption, persecution, oppression, etc. In Islam, any enticement that might pull a Muslim away from the religion is in the category of the worst offences, and is punishable by death. (With "only" a 5-year sentence and substantial fine, these women would be getting off easy).
A recent article by Abul Kasem goes through some of the various words and deeds that constitute "oppression" in Islam.
http://www.faithfreedom.org/oped/AbulKasem51205.htm .
What these ladies did is near identical, down to the easily identifiable t-shirts for safty on the day trip, to the holiday club run at my church. I have been one of the leaders every year for the last 10 years.
A Barnabas fund representative visited them in prison prior to the appeal and describes the poor conditions of the prison.
http://www.barnabasfund.org/zDec05Up.htm
The request for prayer was printed before the appeal result was known but this information remains relevant
" Pray for the judge who will hear their appeal. The judge in their court case reportedly privately admitted he believed the ladies were innocent, but found them guilty because of the demands from the angry Muslim crowds at the court case."
Rebecca is referring to Wolfowitz's tenure as American ambassador in Jakarta, where despite his efforts to "get out and see the country" he remained a cosseted American ambassador, and everyone and his brother ws quick to tell him of how "moderate" the country was, is, always will be, and by the way, "we look forward to establishing diplomatic relations with Israel" --keenly aware of what they thought the Ambassador would want to hear.
What does Wolfowitz know about Islam? What did he know, and what did so many others planning for Big Things in Iraq, Iraq the Model, Iraq the Light Unto the Muslim Nations, know about Islam, or about Iraq itself? Did he read a single book on Islam ever? Did he ever bother to find out, while in Indonesia, how Islam arrived there, a country where Hindus and Buddhists had once lived, and managed to take over? Had he heard, has he heard, has anyone in official big-shot Washington heard, of the Barnabas Fund? When they were invading Iraq, were they aware that several thousand churches were being destroyed in Indonesia? Would it have mattered in their final plans, their "victory" consituting in Iraq of making the country happy, healthy, whole, and prosperous (thus all the complaining focusses on the failure of the press to note all the projects designed to make Iraq happy, healthy, whole, and prosperous)?
This is merely a footnote to the posting above.
Wolfowitz is merely one example --in his case, the weapons systems analyst who was not deeply versed, and saw no need to be deeply versed (that's the bad part) in Islam. And he is, compared to many of those who are his enemies, like the appeasing Scowcroft, or the not-very-intelligent Wilkerson (who confidently predicts, while deploring the war, that "we can't pull out now" because "if we do we would have to be back in a few years with 5 million troops").
That's the intolerable thing. They are -- almost all of them -- spouting different kinds of nonsense.
Start Talking Sense.
While there's nothing we can do about the Indonesian judicial system (I refuse to call it justice), we can encourage these three women via open doors. Any mail you send to an open doors office for the three women will be forwarded to them.
It's a lot worse than what the article says. If anyone has the capacity to host a 50 meg file I can send you the video clip of the atmosphere outside the court.
A friend in Indonesia told us that literally the Jihadis brought 7 coffins (for the ladies and the judges) and laid them outside the court in case a verdict was not to their liking.
We can pray for them and meanwhile please continue to send in your letters.
LOL... sorry, Christians of Indonesia (Egypt, Ehtiopia, Syria, Iraq, etc); the Pope is too busy to give a damn about you. And your brethren in America don't give a damn either; they're too busy fighting the Culture War.
Maybe Mel Gibson will make a movie about it.
Islam has no spiritual depth whatsoever and can only gain support through intimidation and violence. No intelligent individual would ever agree with the extremely repressive and intolerant teachings of the Koran.
My prayers are with these women, may they be protected against the islamic fanatics.
Jan.
This is the true face of Islam and shows why Islam is incompatible with civilized societies. Does anyone rememberd the Christian women who were sentenced to death in Afghanistan? They received the death sentence for showing a Christmas video to local children. The women were freed by the US military during the war.
Kj, your continued ranting about Mel Gibson is childish and irrational.
I sent this to my wonderful Christian brother in law, who firmly believes that Islam is a religion of peace.
May he be enlightened.
I sent this to my wonderful Christian brother in law, who firmly believes that Islam is a religion of peace.
May he be enlightened.
Posted by: treehugger at December 5, 2005 12:23 PM
Does your brother-in-law live in a vacuum or a cave? It is truly incomprehensible to me that anyone could believe Islam is a "religion of peace."
Even if one is ignorant of the doctrine of Islam, don't the hundreds of brutal terror attacks and heinous atrocities committed by rabid muslims EVERY WEEK, around the entire world, speak volumes about muslims and Islam? How anyone could shrug off this carnage as deviant behavior by a "few radicals" amazes me. Another thing that amazes me is the apathy of the apologists, who are too indolent and devoid of curiosity to learn about Islam for themselves. What is it going to take for them to see the obvious?
When you bring poisonous, deadly creatures into your home, you either spend all your time protecting yourself from them, or you foolishly convince yourself that they will be so grateful for your kindness that they will have no desire to harm you. Either way you're doomed because sooner or later, one way or another, they're going to kill you. Killer instinct cannot be assauged. The poor suckers who have been misled and fooled by "nice, friendly, courteous muslims" should read some of the psychological studies on muslims and the mind-altering impact of Islam. If that doesn't snap them out of their deluded trances, I don't know what will. I have concluded that there are many people who simply do not wish to contemplate the truth about Islam so they wallow in denial.
Another "moderate islamic state bites the dust and descends into the abyss of Islamo-fascism.
Indonesians do not realize that entering the hell of Islamo-fascism is likely a oneway trip...
OT but motivated by comments.
If Mel Gibson wanted to contribute something really useful, he should lend his money, talent and energy, towards producing a true movie of the Crusades, to correct the ass kissing misrepresenation of Kingdom of Heaven. Perhaps hiring Paul Fregosi as an advisor.
nariz, you and I are on the same page. Unfortunately Mel already has a few other irons in the fire.
btw, going to see the Narnia movie? Looks to be quite good.
I would love to hear what the savage Bastards who keep on saying that "Islam is a religion of peace" and Jesus (Isa) is a venerated Prophet per the Koran etc has to say about this show trial?
Yeah kj where are your hippie friends from the ACLU and Amnesia International in this. Oh I forgot these women are Bible thumpers, no point in getting worked about them reactionaries. Anyone with two cells for a brain knows that it is the Left with their PC nonsense that has made it impossible for the West to come up with a coherent response to the abuse of Christians. For before even getting out of the door, they have to ritually debase themselves about imperialism, racism and greenhouse gases. Who needs it?
What barbaric animals these muslims are. These teachers probably showed the children more love than their own islamic parents did. Bass ackwards death cult of a scourge on this planet. Wage war on CAIR and all organizations like them, directly and in-directly!
"Child Protection Act, ratified in 2002. The act forbids the coercion of minors to change their religion. Those convicted face five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. "
Maybe this law should be enforced against Muslims. How many innocent Christian and Hindu children are kidnapped, raped, married off, or forced to say the Islamic creed at gunpoint?
In Western countries,these muslims Demand every thing favourable to them ,claiming it is their "Right".
They Demand koran to be taught in schools
They Demand exclusive swimming pool days for their ladies
They Demand holiday for Ramzan and bakrid
They Demand special prayer places in schools,stadiums,and airports.
They Demand "halal" foods in school canteens,air planes,and public functions.
They Demand the "Right' to sue any fellow citizen,who has 'offended'their islamic feelings..
They Demand Islam should be named as one of the 'Principles' along with 'Judeo- Christian beliefs , in the country.
In Return, they will give back to the Country:
Bombing the Sub-ways.
Raping your women,and putting the blame on 'sexy dresses'!
Import more and more radical Imams fresh from Wahabi terrorist madrasas.
Go to Prisons,convert the notorious criminals.and use them after their release to Bomb,annd Kill your own people.
Help your muslim gangs to freep into the country,by means of bogus pass ports,false resons for Refugee claims.
Drain on your welfare, and medicare,by bringing all their oldies,sitting in their native countries.