42 Indonesia
What does persecution look like in Indonesia?
The situation for Christians has been deteriorating in the course of recent years, with Indonesian society increasingly influenced by conservative interpretations of Islam. Polls regularly show that especially young people hold conservative views, and by-laws on Islamic dress are becoming more common.
Many converts from Islam experience pressure from their families. However, the intensity of the pressure depends on the individual family and place. Most pressure for Christian converts takes the form of isolation, verbal abuse and ostracization. Only a small percentage of converts face physical violence for their Christian faith and they may be forced to relocate to another part of Indonesia. The pressure is also higher in places like West Java or Aceh, where radical Islamic groups exert a heavy influence on society and politics.
If a church is believed to be proselytizing, they will likely run into opposition from radical Islamic groups. Depending again on the region, some church groups also face difficulties getting permission for building churches. Even if they manage to fulfill all legal requirements (and win court cases), local authorities may still ignore them.
What changed this year?
The situation for Christians in Indonesia hasn’t changed much, although there were fewer reports of violence after dozens of radical Muslims were arrested. Churches continued to face difficulties and opposition, even after obtaining building permits. Pressure remains high for many Christians, and in general, following Jesus in Indonesia may be hard for some believers.
How can I pray?
- Though Christians worship freely in some parts of Indonesia, in others, believers can be forced into the shadows. Ask God to protect these secret communities of Christians.
- Pray for Christians rejected by families and communities because they left Islam to follow Jesus.
- Ask God to bring Indonesian society to a broader tolerance of Christian worship and open faith in Christ.
