Yesterday (September 1) an Indonesian court convicted Islamic cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir of treason and immigration charges and sentenced him to four years in jail. He was, however, acquitted of more serious charges when the judges ruled that there was not sufficient evidence to convict him of leading the militant Islamic group Jemaah Islamiah (JI). This group has been responsible for several attacks on churches, including attacks in December 2000, which left nineteen people dead. Prosecutors alleged that Ba'asyir had approved the church attacks. JI, which has links to al Qaeda, has also been blamed for last year's bombing of a nightclub in Bali and a failed assassination attempt on Indonesian President, Megawati Sukarnoputri.
Pray that this ruling will not stir up further militancy by Islamic groups in Indonesia. Pray for protection for Christians throughout Indonesia, as tensions continue.
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