SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – A Christian apologist whose comparisons of Christianity with Islam were widely disseminated on his blog and YouTube channel has disappeared since his arrest in December, sources said. Nothing has been heard from Gratia Pello, a professor at a small Christian theological school in East Java Province, since a crowd of police […]
Police Arrest Christian Apologist in Indonesia
Professor compared Christianity and Islam on social media.
February 8, 2023 By -
Christian Worship Service Prohibited in Indonesia
Church blocked from renting one venue is banned from new site.
January 19, 2023 By -
SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – A church in Indonesia on Jan. 8 was prohibited from holding a Sunday service in front of a city hall building, where it had gone after losing its prior worship venue in a mall, sources said. Following opposition to the church’s services in a mall in Medan, North Sumatra Province, […]
Muslim Villagers Halt Christmas Celebrations in Indonesia
Home worship stopped within hours of president’s appeal for unity.
December 29, 2022 By -
SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – Muslim villagers in West Java, Indonesia on Christmas Day stopped a congregation from celebrating Christmas in a home, according to various sources. The interference came within hours of Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s historic visits to two churches in nearby Bogor, where he urged congregations to continue harmonious relations with people […]
Official Bans Christmas Celebrations in District in Indonesia
Action comes despite lack of national-level restrictions.
December 21, 2022 By -
SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – A high-level official in western Indonesia on Saturday (Dec. 17) announced an agreement with a multi-faith body that prohibits Christmas celebrations in a district at sites without government approval. The agreement effectively bans religious Christmas celebrations in Java Island’s Maja District, Banten Province as strict requirements and bureaucratic opposition make obtaining […]
Officials Join Opposition to Church Construction in Indonesia
Government interference comes into the open in western Java.
November 2, 2022 By -
SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – Two local officials in Indonesia joined Islamist organizations’ call to block construction of a Christian church, triggering objections nationwide the past two months, according to published reports. In western Java Island’s Banten Province, Cilegon Mayor Heldy Agustian and his deputy, Sanuji Pentamarta, were among those who signed a petition to ban […]
Authorities Seal Shut Three Church Buildings in Indonesia
Islamists pressure local officials, Christian leaders say.
October 4, 2018 By -
(Morning Star News) – Police in Jambi, on Indonesia’s island of Sumatra, last week escorted members of a Methodist church congregation out of their building and sealed the door shut. While church members wept, the Jambi Civil Service Police pasted a notice declaring the building was sealed due lack of a permit, as seen in […]
Islamic Extremist Suicide Bomber Family Attacks Three Churches in East Java, Indonesia
Deadliest assault in more than a decade on the archipelago.
May 14, 2018 By -
(Morning Star News) – Islamic extremists in Indonesia, including a family of suicide bombers that targeted three churches, launched multiple attacks yesterday and today that reportedly killed at least 12 people not including the assailants. The father of the family that killed the Christians on Sunday (May 13), Dita Futrianto, was the suspected head of […]
Muslim Extremist Who Attacked Church in Indonesia Tried to Go to Syria
Priest, three parishioners and policeman wounded in sword attack.
February 16, 2018 By -
(Morning Star News) – A Muslim extremist who attacked a Catholic church in Indonesia on Sunday (Feb. 11) had tried to go to Syria, according to reports. The 23-year-old identified as Suliyono of Bayuwangi in East Java wounded a priest and three others during Mass at St. Lidwina Catholic Church in Central Java’s city of Yogyakarta. […]
Indonesia Joins Repressive Islamic Regimes in Sentencing Ahok to Prison for ‘Blasphemy’
Statute treads on human rights in world’s largest Islamic country.
May 9, 2017 By -
(Morning Star News) – Indonesia took a huge leap backwards in its reputation as a moderate Islamic democracy today when a court sentenced the Christian governor of Jakarta, Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, to two years in prison for “blasphemin The blasphemy accusation was key in Ahok’s defeat in a bid to be re-elected as governor […]
Morning Star News’ Top 10 Persecution Stories of 2016
Jihadists fight under the radar in Africa.
January 6, 2017 By -
(Morning Star News) – While war in the Middle East dominated international headlines, Islamic extremists in the shadows were taking jihad to Christian civilians in Africa with unprecedented intensity in 2016. In Nigeria, Muslim ethnic Fulanis looked less like nomadic herdsmen and more like well-armed, well-funded jihadist militants. Close Muslim relatives and Islamist village mobs […]