I received this interesting email from an Australian military officer, referring to this post: Dear Robert, I was interested to read about British troops helping build a mosque in Afghanistan. When I was in Aceh with the Australian Army following the Tsunami, despite this being the main stronghold for political Islam in Indonesia, and despite […]
Shocker in Aceh: 3 Sharia police “misused their power,” and are accused of gang rape
Abuses of power were inevitable: among Sharia’s many defects are its sense of entitlement to rule, and inadequate limitations on power and jurisdiction. Yes, the perpetrators are being held accountable in this case, but that is to the credit of the civil government. One can only imagine how vast and how much worse abuses of […]
Indonesia: Christians go to Human Rights Commission to ask for religious freedom
Indonesia is often held up as a model of democracy and moderation in Islam. The Christians there know otherwise. Islamic Tolerance Alert from modern, moderate Indonesia: “West Java: denial of religious freedom pushes Christians before the human rights commission,” by Mathias Hariyadi for AsiaNews, January 12 (thanks to C. Cantoni): Jakarta (AsiaNews) – Hundreds of […]
Indonesia arrests six for “sexy dancing”
Not in Indonesia There Is No Fun In Islam Alert from modern, moderate Indonesia: “Six arrested in Indonesia for ‘sexy dancing,’” from AFP, January 6 (thanks to John): Indonesian police arrested six people for the alleged performance of a “sexy dance” at a cafe in the early hours of New Year’s Day, a police official […]
Indonesia: With building permits denied or revoked, many Christians prepare to celebrate Christmas outside of churches
Not to mention the churches that have been attacked outright. Islamic Tolerance Alert. “Hundreds to worship outside churches amid tight security,” by Yuli Tri Suwarni and Suherdjoko for the Jakarta Post, December 24: Fifteen police officers backed up by soldiers and local residents will guard every church across West Java during Christmas celebrations to prevent […]
Aceh Sharia office forbids Chinese dance of the lions
Once again, as the Ayatollah Khomeini said, There is no fun in Islam. “Aceh Sharia forbids Chinese dance of the lions,” by Mathias Hariyadi from AsiaNews, December 21 (thanks to C. Cantoni): Jakarta (AsiaNews) – Indonesians of Chinese descent are in revolt against the decision of the Religious Affairs Office of Aceh, which has banned […]
Indonesia: Mob of 1000 Muslims storms a church under construction
The 7th-century Pact of Umar forbade the construction of new churches or repair of existing ones. The pact is in the spirit of Qur’an 9:29, which commands that non-Muslims “feel themselves subdued” — a fundamental reason why incidents such as this are neither new nor isolated. “A thousand Islamic extremists, including women and children, storm […]
Raids in Indonesia: Drugs? Terrorism? Smuggling? Nah — sexy Halloween costumes
This latest There Is No Fun In Islam* Update comes from modern, moderate Indonesia, where they have found a marvelous accord between Islamic tradition and modern sensibilities: “Sexy Costumes Spark Halloween Raids in Indonesia’s Kalimantan,” from the Jakarta Globe, November 2 (thanks to all who sent this in): A Halloween party in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, […]
Christmas greetings from Indonesia
“Indonesia Under High Risk of Terror Attack,” from AP, with thanks to JE: The embassy said a police raid on a Jemaah Islamiyah hideout last month turned up information indicating the al-Qaida-linked group was in the advanced stages of planning attacks on foreigners. “In recent years terrorist attacks have occurred in Indonesia during the Christmas […]
Indonesia: Suicide bombings “not jihad”
Why not? Because they target civilians, and that is immoral? No — because Indonesia is “not a combat zone.” So presumably such ops are just fine in Israel, Britain, Spain, the U.S., and elsewhere. “Indonesia: Suicide bombings ‘not jihad’ say hard-liners,” from AKI, with thanks to the Constantinopolitan Irredentist: Jakarta, 5 Dec. (AKI/Jakarta Post) – […]