Several recent protests against various forms of Islamic supremacism and jihadist violence have found themselves needing a “Thank You for Proving Our Point” sign or two in the crowd. Here is yet another. “Breaking: Indonesia Artist Attacked During Peaceful Protest Against Religious Violence,” by Anita Rachman for the Jakarta Globe, February 15: An Indonesian artist […]
Indonesia: Bomb-maker in 2002 Bali bombings to go on trial
Indonesia is generally tougher on jihadists with international connections, like Umar Patek, than it is with homegrown Islamic supremacist thugs, to whom the government generally seems content to turn a blind eye as long as they restrict themselves to targeting non-Muslims. More on this story. “Alleged Bali bomber to face six charges,” from the Australian […]
It’s that time of year again: Muslim clerics warn against observing Valentine’s Day
It’s one thing to advise against it on religious grounds, but this missive comes from Aceh, where the imposition of Sharia has only gotten more intensive, and morality policing is already well off the rails. It is quite another matter when such a prohibition becomes grounds for harassment and intervention by law enforcement of one […]
U.S.: 37 Indonesian Christians to be deported despite fears of persecution
There appears to be a state of official denial of how conditions for religious minorities in Indonesia have deteriorated, even just in the past 10 years. Officially, Indonesia is still modern, moderate, and tolerant, and that’s that. Everything is fine on paper, so everything must be fine in reality. “37 Indonesian Christians to Be Deported […]
Predictable: Calls in Indonesia to behead atheist arrested for blasphemy
This self-righteous instability will eventually impoverish the entire society, both materially, as angry mobs destroy what they will, and intellectually, as dissent becomes physically dangerous. An update on this story. “Calls to Behead Indonesian Atheist Alexander Aan,” by Presi Mandari for the Jakarta Globe, February 2 (thanks to The Religion of Peace): Jakarta. A defiant […]
Indonesia: “Tolerance of Islamic vigilantism is helping to breed a new generation of terrorists”
Indonesia’s approach to homegrown Islamic thug groups like the Islamic Defenders Front is noticeably more flexible than its dealings with groups with international connections. In particular, there seems to be no sense of urgency as long as “Islamic vigilantism” restricts its targets to Christians and Ahmadis. But evidence is accumulating that feeding that proverbial crocodile […]
Human Rights Watch: Violence against religious minorities in Indonesia “surges”
Wherever there arises a renewed interest in Sharia, the observable effect is that tolerance decreases and harassment increases, and violent persecution often results with the aim of putting the unbelievers in their supposed place. “Violence against Indonesia’s religious minorities surges -HRW,” from by Thin Lei Win for AlertNet, January 24 (thanks to The Religion of […]
Indonesia: Islamic groups launch search to find church service at a Christian home and disrupt it
Is there still actually a government in Jakarta? One could be forgiven for doubting, in yet another episode of the Yasmin Church saga. The great irony for the Islamic supremacist thugs here is that their prolonged persecution of the Yasmin Church has made it, and its perseverance, known to the world. By trying to make […]
Indonesia: Atheist attacked by angry mob, faces jail time for writing “God doesn’t exist” on his Facebook page
“He is suspected of having blasphemed against Islam.” Islamic Tolerance Alert from modern, moderate Indonesia: “Indonesian atheist faces jail after Facebook post,” from AFP, January 20 (thanks to Kenneth): PADANG, Indonesia “” An Indonesian civil servant who declared himself an atheist on Facebook was arrested and is now facing jail for blasphemy after being attacked […]
Indonesia: Sunni-Shi’ite conflict simmers in East Java
“There’s still a tendency to see these things in Sunni-Shia terms. But the Middle East is going to have to overcome that.” – Condoleezza Rice, January 2007. Yes, somehow, there’s still a tendency to see the Sunni-Shi’ite conflict as a conflict between Sunnis and Shi’ites. We have seen outbreaks of persecution of Shi’ites in Pakistan, […]