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Persecution News - Indonesia

Riots erupt over Christian teacher's alleged blasphemy
(December 17, 2008)

Mob storms church and calls for ban
(August 20, 2008)

Pastor Released
(April 30, 2008)

Church Worship Services Stopped by Muslim Mobs
(March 12, 2008)

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

Pastor Released

April 30, 2008

Pastor Abraham Bentar, who was imprisoned in March 2006 on charges of attempting to convert Muslims to Christianity (click here for more details), was released on parole on April 27, according to VOMC contacts in Indonesia. Bentar had served two-thirds of his four and a half year sentence. Praise the Lord for his release.

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