Release International

Indonesia's Supreme Court has taken the unusual step of allowing a second appeal for three Christians on death row, amid a huge international campaign for their release.

Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus da Silva and Marinus Riwu, who were found guilty of inciting violence during sectarian clashes in Central Sulawesi in 2000, were due to be executed last month. However, the Supreme Court has now instructed the Attorney General to hold fire for the time being, according to AsiaNews.

This second review will be carried out by a completely different panel of judges from those who presided over the first review. The new line-up of judges includes a Christian. A Supreme Court spokesman gave the following explanation for the unexpected move: 'The [court] had no intention of granting a second revision of the case. However, seeing the national and international concern for the fate of the three convicts, it decided to approach the issue with caution.'

The announcement will be a welcome reprieve to the three men and their supporters. As recently as April 7, the Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono publicly denied them clemency. Central Sulawesi police have already selected the members of the firing squad, according to Indonesia's National Police.

The three continue to protest their innocence. Prominent human rights organisations such as Jubilee Campaign UK point out that the judge who convicted them refused even to consider key testimonies from many important witnesses. These witnesses claimed that, far from inciting violence, the three men were trying to help unarmed Christians who were under attack.

• Pray for Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus da Silva and Marinus Riwu, as their lives continue to hang in the balance. Pray that justice will be done in their case.
• Pray that the panel of Supreme Court judges would be open to reviewing all the evidence in this case, including witness statements for the defence.

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