Release International

Thousands of Islamic hardliners rioted in Central Java after a judge ignored their demands for the death sentence for a Christian convicted of blasphemy.

The violence broke out in Temanggung yesterday when a court sentenced Richmond Bawengan Antonius to five years in jail for distributing evangelical tracts in the area last October. The tracts 'poked fun' at Islamic symbols, according to online news agency AsiaNews.

Angry Muslims reportedly stormed the court building at about 10am, attacking Antonius and threatening the judge who had to be rescued from the building.

In the riots that followed, the court house windows were smashed; then several Christian buildings were attacked.

The Church of St Peter and Paul was pelted with stones and its leader, Pastor Saldhana, was reported to be badly beaten. Release sources report that the Indonesia Bethel Church and the Temanggung Pentecost Church were both set alight. Part of a children's nursery inside the Indonesia Bethel Church compound was also damaged.

A church-run orphanage and health centre were reportedly destroyed in the violence, which only ended when hundreds of police in riot gear intervened.

'The situation in Temanggung city has been dreadful,' said a Release source, adding that businesses had been forced to close and traffic was in chaos.

(Sources: AsiaNews, Release sources)

• Pray for calm and peace to be restored in Temanggung, Central Java. Pray particularly for the congregations and Christian workers affected by the violence.
• Ask God to protect Richmond Bawengan Antonius and his family from extremists disgruntled by what they perceive as a lenient sentence.

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