Tag: Ahok

Indonesia: Christian student faces jail sentence for blasphemy

March 1, 2019 Indonesia Ahok, Blasphemy, Hizb ut-Tahrir, Indonesia, Islamic extremism, North Sumatra

Thousands of Muslim gathered in Indonesia's capital Jakarta on 26 October last year after a Muslim flag was burned. The incident also triggered a response from a Christian student and he is now facing a prison sentence for blasphemy. (Photo: Getty Images)

A Christian student in North-Sumatra, Indonesia, faces 18 months in prison for insulting Islam, reports the Catholic news site UCAN. The alleged blasphemy took place on 24 October last year, when Agung Kurnia Ritonga, 22, saw a picture showing three Muslims burning a flag containing Islamic symbolism and that belonged . . . Read More

Indonesian Christian ex-governor Ahok released

January 25, 2019 Indonesia Ahok, Blasphemy, Indonesia, Islamic extremism, Jakarta

Jakarta’s former governor, known widely and simply as “Ahok”, walked out of prison today, 24 January, after serving nearly two years for blasphemy. He was granted early release, four months ahead of schedule, for good behavior. Outside prison in West-Java he was greeted by his eldest son and Nicholas and . . . Read More

Indonesian Christian governor Ahok set for early release from prison

December 11, 2018 Indonesia Ahok, Blasphemy, Indonesia, Islamic extremism, Jakarta, Minorities

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 . . . Read More

Indonesian musician faces jail for anti-Ahok hate speech

November 27, 2018 Indonesia Ahok, Blasphemy, Indonesia

Ahmad Dhani Prasetyo (Photo: Twitter, @AHMADDHANIPRAST )

An Indonesian rock musician faces a two-year prison sentence for allegedly committing hate speech against Jakarta’s Christian former governor during his bid for re-election in 2017, reports the Catholic news agency UCAN. Ahmad Dhani Prasetyo stands accused of spreading hate speech on Twitter, targeting former governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, known . . . Read More

Indonesia: Christian politician accused of blasphemy for opposing Sharia-based bylaws

November 22, 2018 Indonesia Ahok, Blasphemy, Indonesia, Jakarta, Quran, Sharia, Tangerang

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 . . . Read More

Indonesia: New religious education bill requires registration of Sunday schools

October 30, 2018 Indonesia Ahok, Blasphemy, Education, Indonesia, Indonesian Ulema Council, Joko Widodo, Minorities

Under the new religious education law churches will also need government approval to hold Sunday school and Bible classes. (Photo: 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 . . . Read More

Non-state actors behind most religious freedom violations in Indonesia – report

August 14, 2018 Indonesia Ahok, Blasphemy, Hizb ut-Tahrir, Indonesia, Islamic Defenders Front, Minorities, Religious freedom

Young people join protests against the former Christian Jakarta governor Ahok who was convicted of blasphemy in May last year. (Photo: 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, 4% more than the year before, according to the annual report of the human rights group Wahid . . . Read More

Indonesian rights body to release anti-sectarian guidelines ahead of elections

July 23, 2018 Indonesia Ahok, Elections, Human rights, Indonesia, Islamic extremism, Java, Joko Widodo

Indonesia’s Human Rights Commission is to propose guidelines to avoid sectarian clashes in the run-up to next year’s national elections, reports Catholic news site UCAN. Ahead of recent regional elections, some hardline Islamic leaders called on Indonesians to vote only for Muslim candidates. Sectarianism also played a prominent role in . . . Read More

Indonesia: Ahok refuses parole, as he hopes for early release

July 16, 2018 Indonesia Ahok, Blasphemy, Indonesia, Islamic extremism, Jakarta

Jakarta’s former governor 'Ahok' is scheduled to be released from prison on 24 January. (Photo: 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 media that he “has decided against parole and will wait until he . . . Read More

Indonesia: How women and children became agents of terror

June 7, 2018 Indonesia Ahok, Children, Indonesia, Islamic extremism, Islamic State, JAD, Jakarta, Muhammadiyah, Surabaya, Women

Women pray in Blue Mosque in Indonesia's capital Jakarta. (Photo: World Watch Monitor)

Terrorism in Indonesia is now carried out by “entire families, including mothers and children”, one local police chief noted, three weeks on from the suicide blasts on three churches and a police station that claimed 27 lives, including 13 attackers. In raids following the series of bomb attacks, Jakarta security . . . Read More

Catching Our Eye