Islamic Extremists in Indonesia Targeting Youth, Women

‘Active intolerant’ teenagers increasing, official says.

SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – The head of Indonesia’s counter-terrorism agency said officials are focussing on protecting teenaged children and women from Islamic radicalization as they have become the most targeted groups. Citing a report by the Setara Institute for Democracy and Peace, Rycko Amelza Dahniel of the National Counter-terrorism Agency (Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Terorisme, […]

Ominous New Decree 95 Confirms Vietnam’s Intent to Control Religion  

Shutting down churches will be easier, raising and receiving funds much harder.

(Morning Star News) – Two millennia ago, Jesus of Nazareth said, “Yes, what sorrow awaits you experts in religious law! For you crush people with unbearable religious demands, and you never lift a finger to ease their burden.” (Luke 11:46, NLT). What Jesus said about the religious zealots of His day could also be said […]

A Year of Bumpy Ups and Downs for Religious Liberty in Vietnam

Despite all efforts, the country again lands on the U.S. Special Watch List.

(Morning Star News) – Vietnam improved from 24th to 35th place in Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch List (WWL) of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, but the U.S. government was not so generous regarding its religious freedom record, placing the country on its Special Watch List on Jan. 4 […]

Blasphemy Law in Indonesia Faces Criticism as Cases Grow

Charges based on fatwas and mob pressure, rights advocates say.

SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – With an increase in blasphemy cases in Indonesia and arrests based on Islamic fatwas and mob pressure, rights advocates are calling for laws to be amended or ended. The number of charges registered under Indonesia’s blasphemy law increased from 10 in 2021 to 19 last year, according to rights group […]

Officials Vow to Withdraw Permit for Christian School in Indonesia

Foundation says it has authorization to build.

SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – Bowing to pressure from Islamic protestors, local officials in South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia have vowed to withdraw permission that had been granted to build a Christian school, sources said. In the town of Parepare, the district representative council had granted permission for the construction of the school as the […]

Local Officials in Laos Stop Worship, Expel Christians

Family barred from returning to village.

(Morning Star News) – A month after a Christian family in Salavan Province, Laos lost their home and were expelled for their faith, officials in another province on Sunday (Oct. 1) disrupted the worship service of a house church and threatened to arrest them, according to a rights group. In Savannakhet Province’s Khampou village, Assaphone […]

Muslim Mob Forces Christians Out of Building in Indonesia

Protest results in agreement to temporarily leave worship site.

SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – A Muslim mob protesting a church site outside Jakarta, Indonesia on Saturday (Sept. 16) has forced the congregation to temporarily move worship services online, sources said. The Indonesia Bethel Church (Gereja Bethel Indonesia, or GBI) reached a police-brokered agreement to forego worship services at their building in Depok, just south […]

Muslims with Machete, Club Halt Worship in Indonesia

Police dismiss case, saying assailant was insane.

SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – A machete-wielding Muslim threatened to kill members of a house church in Indonesia as he and family members on Aug. 29 broke up a worship service, sources said. In West Sumatra Province, the Sola Gratia congregation of Bethel Indonesia Church (Gereja Bethel Indonesia, or GBI) was meeting the evening […]

3-Month Jail Term Given for Halting Christian Worship in Indonesia

A Christian would have received harsh punishment for same crime, rights advocate says.

SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – A court in Indonesia last week sentenced a Muslim to three months in jail for halting a Christian worship service. Sources said reducing the charge from blasphemy to disrupting a worship service, combined with an agreement the Muslim reached with the church, resulted in a lighter sentence than would have […]

Mobs Impede Christian Worship at Two Churches in Indonesia

Building under construction damaged.

SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – Mobs in northern Indonesia this month blocked a church from its Sunday service venue in one town and damaged a worship building under construction in another, sources said. In Riau Islands Province, about 30 people on Wednesday (Aug. 9) used hammers and clubs to break huge holes in the walls […]