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Persecution News - Indonesia

Indonesia Profile

Total Area:
1,919,440 sq. km

Population:
237,512,355 (July 2008 est.)

Ethnicity:
Javanese 40.6%, Sundanese 15%, Madurese 3.3%, Minangkabau 2.7%, Betawi 2.4%, Bugis 2.4%, Banten 2%, Banjar 1.7%, other or unspecified 29.9% (2000)

Language:
Bahasa Indonesia (official, modified form of Malay), English, Dutch, local dialects, the most widely spoken of which is Javanese.

Religion:
Muslim 86.1%, Protestant 5.7%, Roman Catholic 3%, Hindu 1.8%, other or unspecified 3.4% (2000)

Government Type:
Republic

Capital:
Jakarta

Population Below Poverty Line:
17.8% (2006)

Country Reports

Church Building Severely Damaged by Islamic Militants

November 28, 2007

Pasundan Christian Church

Approximately 250 members of the Muslim "Anti-Apostasy Movement Alliance" (AAMA) forced their way into a Pasundan Christian Church in the South Bandung area of West Java on November 18, according to a report from the Dutch office of Open Doors. The militants held an Islamic prayer service in the building and then began destroying the furnishings and interior of the building with knives and sticks. The church has over 300 members and has been operating for more than fifty years. This is not the first time that AAMA activists have attacked this church.

Pray for the members of this church as they rebuild following the attack. Pray that they will be a testimony of peace and forgiveness to those who perpetrated this violence.

For more information on the persecution of Christians in Indonesia, go to the Indonesia Country Report.