Indonesia Muslims Protect Churches on Xmas
Providing a tolerant and peaceful atmosphere for Christians to celebrate their religious occasion, Muslim youth in the Indonesian city of Madiun have guarded churches during Christmas Mass.
“[It is] an example of tolerance in our region,” Dedi Subarno, a member of the Islamic Youth Movement (Gerakan Pemuda Islam), told Khabar Southeast Asia website on Tuesday, January 8.
Cooperating with other Muslim youth, Subarno surrounded churches and hotels in Madiun, East Java, during Christmas mass.
Christmas is the main festival on the Christian calendar. Its celebrations reach its peak at 12:00 PM on December 24 of every year.
Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7.
Serving as a member of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, Subarno opines that it is everyone’s responsibility to keep the community safe, especially for minorities.
“I have been active in these kinds of efforts for years,” Subarno told Khabar.
“My job and my commitment all are aimed at protecting the minority.”
Along with groups from the Islamic Youth Movement, police forces kept a vigilant eye on the security situation, deploying about 400 personnel to ward off any attacks by militants.
“We realized that many threats can happen during this religious holiday,” Police Commissioner Adjutant Baru Sutrisno said.
“Therefore, we responded with increased security.”
Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim state with Muslims making up around 85 percent of its 237-million population.
Christians, both Protestants and Catholics, make up nearly 12 percent of the country’s population.
In the past years, Muslims have provided protection to churches during Christmas celebrations.
Source: Onislam.net
Cooperating with other Muslim youth, Subarno surrounded churches and hotels in Madiun, East Java, during Christmas mass.
Christmas is the main festival on the Christian calendar. Its celebrations reach its peak at 12:00 PM on December 24 of every year.
Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7.
Serving as a member of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, Subarno opines that it is everyone’s responsibility to keep the community safe, especially for minorities.
“I have been active in these kinds of efforts for years,” Subarno told Khabar.
“My job and my commitment all are aimed at protecting the minority.”
Along with groups from the Islamic Youth Movement, police forces kept a vigilant eye on the security situation, deploying about 400 personnel to ward off any attacks by militants.
“We realized that many threats can happen during this religious holiday,” Police Commissioner Adjutant Baru Sutrisno said.
“Therefore, we responded with increased security.”
Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim state with Muslims making up around 85 percent of its 237-million population.
Christians, both Protestants and Catholics, make up nearly 12 percent of the country’s population.
In the past years, Muslims have provided protection to churches during Christmas celebrations.
Source: Onislam.net
