Authorities in Indonesia last week arrested a 19-year-old member of an Islamic extremist group and his parents, foiling a plan to suicide bomb two church sites, officials said.
The high school student identified only by his initials, H.O.K, was arrested on July 31 as he was on his way dispose of evidence in East Java, said authorities at a press conference in Jakarta on Sunday (Aug. 4).
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Muslims account for 83.3% of Indonesia’s population, while 11.43% identify as Christian, with the evangelical population estimated at 3.23%, according to the Joshua Project.
Indonesia ranked 42nd on Christian support organization Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch List of the 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. Indonesian society has adopted a more conservative Islamic character, and churches involved in evangelistic outreach are at risk of being targeted by Islamic extremist groups, according to the WWL report.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written and originally published by Morning Star News.
