Thousands of Muslims in Indonesia attack three churches, an orphanage and a Christian centre

(February 08, 2011) In Indonesia, thousands of angry Muslims attacked three churches, a Christian orphanage and a health centre that is also a Christian. The violence which took place on Tuesday morning, only ended with the intervention of police in riot gear and police vans. One of the vans was set on fire by the crowd. The revolt took place in Temang-gung regency, Central Java, in front of the town hall. First the crowd attacked the court where a trial against Richmond Bawengan Antonius, a Christian born in Manado (North Sulawesi) was being held. Bawengan, who is accused of proselytizing and blasphemy, was arrested in October 2010 because during a visit to Temang-gung, he had distributed printed missionary material, which, among other things, poked fun at some Islamic symbols. The profanity has cost him five years in prison, but the crowd were demanding the death sentence. The violence was sparked by their dissatisfaction with the verdict.
According to AsiaNews the Catholic Church of Sts. Peter and Paul on Sudirman Boulevard was the first to be attacked, and the parish priest, Fr Saldhana, a missionary of the Holy Family, was violently beaten, as he tried to protect the tabernacle and the Eucharist against the mob. The crowd then attacked a Pentecostal church and then went on to destroy in a Catholic orphanage and a health centre of the Sisters of Providence. Another Protestant church in Shekinah was also burnt down.