Former Jakarta Governor ‘Ahok’ released in Indonesia
Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, the former governor of Jakarta popularly known as ‘Ahok’, has been released from prison in Indonesia. His release on Thursday, which comes three months early, followed the prominent Christian being given a two year jail sentence in 2017 following his conviction on blasphemy charges in May, 2017. The news was welcomed by activists […]
Indonesian Christian governor Ahok set for early release from prison
World Watch Monitor Jakarta’s former governor, known as “Ahok”, who was sentenced last year to two years in jail for blasphemy against Islam, is to be released from prison next month, four months ahead of schedule. The ethnic Chinese Christian, whose real name is Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, was due to be released in May but has been […]
Christian politician in Indonesia accused of blasphemy for opposing Sharia-based bylaws
World Watch Monitor A young Christian politician has been accused of blasphemy in Indonesia after criticising Sharia-based bylaws, Catholic news agency UCAN reports. Grace Natalie, 36, the chairwoman of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), was reported to police by a conservative Muslim organisation after delivering her speech at her party’s gathering in Tangerang, near Jakarta, last […]
New religious education bill in Indonesia requires registration of Sunday schools
World Watch Monitor Christians in Indonesia are opposing a new religious education bill that will require them to obtain government approval for holding Sunday schools or confirmation classes, reports the Catholic news site UCAN. The draft bill prescribes that these classes can only be offered if there are at least 15 participants and the organiser has […]
INDONESIA: PENTECOSTALS PREACH CHRIST DESPITE THE COST
STEFAN J BOS, of BosNewsLife, speaks with Johannis ‘John’ Hus Lumenta, the head of Indonesia’s main Pentecostal denomination…
Non-state actors behind most religious freedom violations in Indonesia – report
World Watch Monitor The number of religious freedom violations in Indonesia grew again in 2017 and for the first time non-state actors were the worst offenders, reports the Jakarta Globe. Last year 213 incidents were reported, four per cent more than the year before, according to the annual report of the human rights group Wahid Foundation, […]
Ahok refuses parole in Indonesia, as he hopes for early release
World Watch Monitor Jakarta’s former governor ‘Ahok’ might be released from prison in August. PICTURE: Open Doors International. The Christian former governor of the Indonesian capital Jakarta, known as “Ahok”, has refused parole in the light of a possibly early release for good behaviour in August, AsiaNews reports. Ahok’s sister, Fifi Lety Indra, wrote on social […]
Ahok asks Indonesian Supreme Court to review his blasphemy sentence
World Watch Monitor Jakarta’s former governor ‘Ahok’ has appealed his prison sentence. PICTURE: Open Doors International. The Christian former Governor of Jakarta has appealed his blasphemy conviction to Indonesia’s Supreme Court. A court spokesman said on 20th February that it had received a request for judicial review from Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, who was sentenced […]
Indonesia sees reduction in religious freedom violations, says report
World Watch Monitor Indonesia saw fewer violations of religious freedom in 2017 than the year before, a national human rights group said this week, although it said it remained concerned about “the politicisation of religious and social differences”. In its 2017 Report on Religious Freedom and Religious Minorities in Indonesia, the Setara Institute said state actors (government, […]
Indonesian Catholic archbishop calls for ‘national unity’
World Watch Monitor There were mass protests during former Jakarta Governor Ahok’s trial, as Islamic hardliners called for his imprisonment. PICTURE: World Watch Monitor. In his New Year’s message the Catholic Archbishop of Jakarta has called for “national unity” in Indonesia after a year that saw religious and political divisions deepen. In his letter, Archbishop Ignatius Suharyo […]