Wrongly Accused Christian Sunday School Teachers Face Hard Life in Prison

Christian Freedom International Urges Immediate Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 30, 2005
CHRISTIAN FREEDOM INTERNATIONAL
CONTACT: Vickie Koth, 540-636-8907

INDRAMAYU, INDONESIA --- Christian Freedom International urges the immediate release of Dr. Rebekka Zakaria, Eti Pangesti and Ratna Bangun. The women are currently serving a three year prison sentence in the Indramayu district of West Java, having been wrongly convicted of “attempting to coerce children to change their religion” under the Indonesian “Child Protection Act.”

In reality, Rebekka, Eti, and Ratna allowed several Muslim children to attend their Sunday school program only after obtaining verbal consent from the Muslim students’ guardians. The three women ran a popular Sunday school program which was attended by some 100 Christian students in their community.

A local Islamic group brought charges against the three for violating the “Child Protection Act.”

Christian Freedom International president Jim Jacobson visited the three women in the Indramayu prison.

“My first reaction,” said Rebekka of the conviction, “I cry.” Rebekka is a medical doctor who treated approximately 30 to 40 Muslim and Christian patients per day in her clinic in Indramayu. In a cramped, dirty prison of 437, only 16 of the inmates are women. There are eight women to a 5m by 5m cell. They sleep all together on top a hard, wood platform. Blankets and sheets are not allowed.

“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 5:00 am everyday to pray and read my Bible till 7:30. At 8:00 they open the [cell] doors,” said Rebekka. The 16 women then share a 10m by 10m room where there is only one chair until 4:00 p.m. when they must return to their dingy cells.

In the 10m by 10m room they are fed an egg-sized lump of rice and soybean mixture covered in ants three times a day.

“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.

Incredibly, Rebekka is currently allowed to lead a worship service on Sundays in a small outdoor courtyard area of the prison. About 35 people from her church are allowed to enter the prison each Sunday to participate.

One male inmate recently converted to Christianity and attends the worship service, bringing the Christian inmate population to seven.

“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 has three children and 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, with children eight and two said with tears in her eyes, “I miss my children so much.”

Rebecca 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.”

Christian Freedom International is urging the Indonesian government to release the three women. CFI is also urging the U.S. government to place all possible pressure on Indonesia for their immediate release.

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 the largest Muslim country in the world.

For information on how to write to Rebekka, Eti, and Ratna, or help them with financial support please contact Christian Freedom International.

Rebekka warned, “Please don’t send the letters here to the prison. If we want to open the letters people send us we must pay 10,000 Rupiah to the guards for small bundle. Please give the letters to the pastor and he will give them to me for free.”

Photographs of the prison and Rebekka, Eti, and Ratna are available upon request.

# # #

Christian Freedom International (CFI) is an interdenominational human rights organization for religious liberty. Mr. Jacobson is a former White House policy analyst. For more information or interviews, contact Christian Freedom International at 540-636-8907 or visit online at www.christianfreedom.org