Human Rights Group Urges Release of Indonesian Christian Women
by Allie Martin and Jenni Parker
December 2, 2005
(AgapePress) - - The president of an interdenominational human rights group that advocates for religious freedom says the justice system in Indonesia is a disgrace. For an example, he points to the recent arrest and conviction of three female Sunday school teachers charged with "attempting to coerce children to change their religion." Convicted under Indonesia's "Child Protection Act," the women -- Dr. Rebekka Zakaria, Eti Pangesti and Ratna Bangun -- were each sentenced to three years in prison and are currently serving their sentences in the Indramayu district of West Java. But officials with Christian Freedom International (CFI), a group advocating for the release of the prisoners, are saying they were wrongly convicted and should go free. Nevertheless, according to CFI president Jim Jacobsen, the three Sunday school teachers recently lost an important appeal.
A local Islamic group brought the charge against the Christian women, claiming they violated the Child Protection Act. In actuality, Zakaria, Pangesti, and Bangun did allow several Muslim children to attend their Sunday school program, but only after obtaining verbal consent from the Muslim students' guardians. The Sunday school program the three women ran was attended by around 100 Christian students in the community, and Zakaria, a medical doctor, also treated approximately 30 to 40 Muslim and Christian patients per day in her clinic in Indramayu.
Now, however, the women are behind bars, where they have been for more than 200 days and counting. According to a CFI press release, the crowded, unsanitary penal facility in Indramayu houses some 437 prisoners, only 16 of whom are women. The women sleep eight to a tiny 5x5-meter cell, not on beds but sharing a hard, bare wooden platform without sheets or blankets.
"It's really a major injustice of the law and international treaties, basically," Jacobsen says, "because they're being held in a very dirty, cramped prison in Indonesia and have one appeal left." And if the women's sentence is not reduced or overturned on appeal this time, he adds, "they're going to spend the next three years in this very crowded, dirty prison, and we just think it's very, very wrong."
The head of CFI is encouraging concerned Christians to get involved in advocating for the imprisoned teachers. He says believers who want to help "need to write, and to continue writing letters to their senators and representatives in Washington to have them put every possible pressure on the Indonesian government to have these Christian Sunday school teachers released." Also needed are financial contributions to support the women's defense in the ongoing legal process.
Believers are also encouraged to write to the imprisoned Christians, who are in need of encouragement and support, and to pray. "Probably the more important thing [concerned Christians] need to do is to pray for these three women," Jacobsen says. "Pray for their release and pray that God will comfort them."
Cast Down, but Not Destroyed
The human-rights advocacy group spokesman says he recently visited Zakaria, Pangesti and Bangun in prison. "I have to tell you," he notes, "they're pretty discouraged because they all have young children, and they want to be home with their families."
Nevertheless, the Christian inmates say their faith continues to sustain them. Zakaria, who says she wakes up at 5:00 a.m. daily to pray and read her Bible for two and a half hours, admits she is sometimes depressed, though not for long. "God comforts me everyday with joy and peace," she explains. "I pray for the other prisoners and guards. One prisoner converted and became a Christian. We share our faith with others."
Zakaria has even been permitted to lead a weekly worship service in a small outdoor courtyard of the prison. Each Sunday, CFI reports, about 35 people from her church are allowed to enter the prison to participate. The incarcerated worship leader says of her present surroundings, "This is 'School of Trust Bible School' -- not a jail."
Fellow believers who wish to write to the three Indonesian Sunday school teachers are asked to do so through CFI rather than send mail directly to the prison, where guards reportedly withhold the mail until prisoners pay them an exorbitant sum for a small bundle of letters. On the other hand, through the pastor who has been regularly visiting the Christian women and who is in contact with CFI, they are able to get their mail for free.
Christian Freedom International continues to petition the Indonesian government for the immediate release of Zakaria, Pangesti and Bangun. Meanwhile, CFI continues to work at publicizing the three Sunday school teachers' case and urging support, prayer, and advocacy on their behalf.
