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January 20, 2006
Indonesia: Christians Who Invited Muslim Kids To Sunday School Will Stay In Jail
The Jakarta Post, reproduced in Persecution.org and AKI News reports that three women Christian Sunday School teachers have lost an appeal, and will remain in jail.
In September 2005, Rebecca Loanita Zakaria, Etty Pangesti and Ratna Mala Bangun had been sentenced to three years' jail under Indonesia's Child Protection Act of 2002.
They were found guilty at a district court in Indramayu, West Java, of trying to convert Muslim children, in a case brought by the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI). Their crime had been to invite some Muslim children to a "Happy Weekend" an event at the Sunday School for children where songs and games were to take place.
On Tuesday the three were informed that they should remain in jail, after a legal challenge was dismissed. A clergyman, Rev Ruyandi Hutasoit challenged the article under the Child Protection Act under which the three women were charged - i.e. any person found guilty of persuading children to convert to another religion are subject to five years in jail and/or a 10,500 dollar fine. Hutasoit said that this article contradicted the Constitution, which stipulates that anyone can follow a religion of their choice.
However, the panel of nine judges said Rev Hutasoit had no legal standing in the case, and the article did not contradict the Constitution, and because he had not suffered any "direct losses" in the case. The judges ruled that article 86 of the CPA clearly forbade the use of "tricks, lies or force" to convert children. It appears they assume the invite by the women to a weekend "Happy Event" had a sinister motive.
The Jakarta Post noted that local Muslim and Christian communities have criticised the ruling, saying the children had gone to the school without coercion, and had not changed their faith.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at January 20, 2006 12:17 AM
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