From “Malaysia’s Double Game” department: Here’s a troubling development which will raise no eyebrows here in Malaysia, but should certainly raise all sorts of troubling questions elsewhere. Namely, Malaysia’s choice to merely deport a terror suspect, rather than charge, try, or imprison him, should cast a harsh skeptical glare on Malaysia’s Muslim government and its […]
Indonesia: Explosion in bomb-making class at Islamic school kills teacher
It’s so hard for Islamic schools to get good bomb-making teachers these days: it’s a field in which it is hard to learn from one’s mistakes. But anyway, how many Christian boarding schools have bomb-making classes? How many Jewish boarding schools have them? How many Hindu boarding schools? Why is Islam different in this way? […]
Indonesia: Christians forced out of church building, hounded even as they tried to worship at the side of the road
This situation in Bogor is reminiscent of the one faced by another West Java congregation last year, in the adjacent city of Bekasi. They were denied the use of a building as a church, and faced brutal harassment even as they tried to worship instead in an open field. Lightning strikes twice in Modern, Moderate […]
Indonesia: Jihadists teaching jihad in prisons
As we recently learned from the second round of Peter King’s hearings, it is the height of “Islamophobia” to suggest that jihadists are recruiting for the jihad in prisons. And yet here is evidence that it is happening in Indonesia; of course, it’s inconceivable that anything like this could be happening in prisons in the […]
Sharia in Indonesia: “Obedient Wives Club” pretext for legalizing polygamy
“Good women are obedient….As for those from whom you fear disobedience, admonish them and send them to beds apart and beat them.” — Qur’an 4:34 “And if ye fear that ye will not deal fairly by the orphans, marry of the women, who seem good to you, two or three or four; and if ye […]
Interfaith dialogue: Bomb threat to Catholic church in Indonesia
Whatever the suspicious object was that police detonated, this was an act of intimidation, intended to “strike terror” in the hearts of unbelievers (Qur’an 8:60) in a country where attacks against churches are a very real and immediate possibility. Just ask the people of Temanggung. West Borneo: bomb threats to a church, Catholics in the […]
Indonesia: Another top jihadist goes on trial
Abu Tholut was charged with “helping set up a terrorist training camp for a group that plotted attacks on foreigners and assassinations of the country’s moderate Muslim leaders.” Not that those leaders have been particularly helpful if one is, say, a Christian or Ahmadi. This jihadist group targeted Muslims as well, however. Fellow jihadist Abu […]
Indonesia: Jailed jihadist preacher says he won’t accept verdict because it’s against Sharia
Obviously, jihad isn’t a crime under Sharia, so in a court of his choice, he would get off scot-free. An update on this story. “Jakarta: Abu Bakar Baasyir gets 15 years. He reacts ‘Verdict contrary to Shariah’,” by Mathias Hariyadi for Asia News, June 16: Jakarta (AsiaNews) – “This verdict is unacceptable, that’s why I […]
Indonesian police nab Bali bombing suspect in plot to poison police with cyanide
More on this story. Of particular interest in this report is the mention of jihadist training camps within Indonesian territory, even outside of Aceh. While not surprising, it does illustrate how entrenched the Tiny Minority of Extremists has become in what is still frequently upheld as a beacon of moderation and modernity. “Indonesia police arrest […]
Indonesia: Muslim cleric gets one-year jail sentence for inciting rampage against Christian targets
We’ll see how long he remains behind bars, as he intends to appeal and has already gotten credit for time served. Other defendants got light sentences of a few months, also with credit for time served. One was scheduled for release this past Sunday. “Indonesian cleric jailed over church attacks,” from Agence France-Presse, June 14 […]