Christian Graves Vandalized In Indonesia

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By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

JAKARTA (Worthy News) – Over a dozen Christian graves at three cemeteries in Indonesia’s Special Region of Yogyakarta were reportedly vandalized from May 16 to 19 as part of a broader anti-Christian campaign in areas of the world’s largest Muslim nation.

On the island of Java, at least 10 Christian graves at the Ngentak Public Cemetery in Baturetno village, Banguntapan, Bantul Regency, Yogyakarta were damaged, Christians said.

Five other graves at the Baluwarti Public Cemetery in Kampung Kembang Basen, Purbayan village, Kotagede, Yogyakarta, also sustained damage

“As a wife whose husband has passed away, I am sad,” said Sri Hana Sukarti, whose husband’s body was buried in the Ngentak Public Cemetery. “I only found out about the destruction of the grave on Sunday after coming home from church,” she added in published remarks.

Rights activists and Christian leaders urged Indonesian authorities to investigate the “desecration” of the graves and to halt such attacks in the future.

In remarks to the media, they also demanded that authorities refrain from labeling such incidents as “isolated cases” unrelated to religious intolerance or hatred.

Police in Yogyakarta province suggested they take the attacks seriously, arresting a 16-year-old student on May 19 on charges of “vandalizing” Catholic and Protestant Christian graves in the area.

SUSPECT INVESTIGATED

The police did not disclose the whole identity of the suspect, introduced him with the initials ANFS, and claimed “he suffers from mental illness.”

However, “The suspect admitted the crime and said he acted alone,” said Bantul Police spokesman Nengah Jeffry Prana Widnyana, adding that he will undergo psychiatric tests.

This is not related to religion, more of a family issue, he said, adding that he often fought with his mother after his father died.

However, Christians and other officials have suggested the attacks are part of a broader pattern of intolerance toward minority Christians in Indonesia.

“The desecration of graves should get serious attention,” said Bonar Tigor Naipospos, a Christian and senior researcher at Setara Institute for Democracy and Peace, a Jakarta-based advocacy group focused on democracy, political freedom, and human rights.

He suggested in published remarks that the destruction of graves is not a prank or just ordinary juvenile delinquency. “This is related to hatred. The underlying cause and background still need to be investigated.”

Abdul Halim, the chief government official in Bantul Regency, told local media that “vandalism of graves was illogical.”

DESECRATION OF GRAVES

Yet the desecration of Christian graves is not new in Indonesia, according to Christian researchers.

On April 6, 2019, Christian graves were vandalized at the Bethesda Mrican cemetery in Yogyakarta. Earlier on December 17, 2018, local Muslim residents reportedly opposed the burial of a Christian man, Albertus Selamet Sugihardi, at the Jambon Public Cemetery, Yogyakarta.

He was buried with approval from the authorities, but the cross at his tomb was later vandalized, Christians said.

In June 2021, a group of students from a nearby school vandalized Christian graves at the Cemoro Kembar Public Cemetery in Central Java province.

Indonesia has also seen attacks and threats against churches. “However, we are fasting and praying,” said a woman who only used the name Victoria.

She told Worthy News that she continues organizing and supporting home church meetings, prayer services, and evangelism despite opposition in a Muslim area.

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