Indonesian Sunday School Teachers Lose Appeal

International Christian Concern has reported, from Indonesian sources, that the three Sunday school teachers in Indonesia imprisoned in India have lost their appeal to have their three-year sentences overturned.

|TOP|Dr. Rebekka Zakaria, Eti Pangesti and Ratna Bangun. had run a popular Sunday school program in which several Muslim children participated in after obtaining parental consent.

Despite Indonesia’s constitution guaranteeing religious freedom, as well as the right to propagate that religion, Islamic radicals have succeeding in pushing through the legislature laws intended to prevent the spread of Christianity.

The women were sentenced in a court case which, according to reports, had seen the regular intimidation of the judges and the women if they were not found guilty, after a local Islamic group brought charges against the three women for breaking the “Child Protection Act.”

Christian Freedom International’s President, Jim Jacobson, visited the women in the prison in the Indramayu district of West Java where he found them living in conditions of squalor.

According to Mr Jacobson’s report, the women are housed in 5m by 5m cells each holding 8 women where they sleep on hard wooden platforms without blankets or sheets.

We have to pay money to the guards to turn the water on to the toilet in our cell,” said Rebekka.

“I wake up at 5:00am everyday to pray and read my Bible till 7:30am. At 8:00am they open the [cell] doors,” she continued.

|AD|The 16 women are taken to a 10m by 10m room until 4 pm. There is only one chair. Three times a day, they are fed an ‘egg-sized’ lump of rice and soybean mixture covered in ants, assist news has reported.

“We eat breakfast, lunch, dinner in that room on the floor. No dining room. We get a small portion of lamb once a week,” said Rebekka.

But amazingly, Rebekka has been allowed to lead a worship service on Sundays in a small outdoor courtyard area of the prison, according to Christian Freedom International. Each Sunday, around 35 people are permitted to enter the prison to join the service.

This has brought forth one male inmate to convert to Christianity. This brings the total to 7 Christians in the prison.

“This is ‘School of Trust Bible School.’ Not a jail,” said Rebekka.

“Sometimes I am depressed, but not for long. God comforts me everyday with joy and peace. I pray for the other prisoners and guards. One prisoner converted and became a Christian. We share our faith with others,” said Rebekka.

“We have been here 140 days. I want to do God’s will. I hope to be released soon,” said Rebekka.

Rebekka said, “I am not angry at the people who brought the charges against me. I forgive them. I bless them.”

Etta, who has left three children at home, said, “I had a dream of going home. I am depressed sometimes. I am not angry about being here. My accusers didn’t understand.”

Ratna, a mother of two, said with tearful eyes, “I miss my children so much.”

Rebekka told CFI president Jim Jacobson, “I want people to know about our situation. I want prayer support. I was surprised so happily that American Christians were so interested in our case. Please pray for us.”

According to Jacobson, “under the Children Protection Act and other regulations, no Christian is safe in Indonesia. This case should be a wakeup call for all caring Christians.” Indonesia is recognised as the largest Muslim nation in the world