Since Pastor Rinaldy Damanik was sentenced to three years in prison on June 16 (see https://www.vomcanada.com/id-2003-06-18.htm for more details), observers have been reporting increasing violence against Christians. According to International Christian Concern (ICC), a Christian was shot to death on July 10 in broad daylight at his plantation. The same day a bomb destroyed a restaurant owned by Christians in another village and two days later a Christian police officer was shot while riding a motorcycle.
The family members of Damanik, as well as his lawyers, have been threatened since the appeal of his conviction was filed. According to Compass Direct, the names of Damanik's supporters were published in local newspapers with threats that they, too, would be arrested. Damanik has been warned that family members and friends will be kidnapped if his appeal proceeds.
Adding to tensions between Christians and Muslims in Indonesia, a law was passed on June 11 stating that any school with more than ten students of a particular faith must provide a teacher of that same faith to teach their religion and provide a place of worship. While the wording appears to be fair, the impact of the law will be felt most by private Christian schools. Few Christian students attend private Muslim schools, but up to 65% of all students in Christian schools are Muslim because of the excellent quality of education offered. These schools will now be required to build mosques and hire Islamic religious teachers. Many schools have said they will ignore the new law.
Pray that Pastor Damanik's conviction will be overturned and that family and friends will be kept safe. Pray that tension between Christians and Muslims in Indonesia will not again build to the point of violence, as seen in recent years.
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