Published: 00:00 GMT Daylight Time - Friday 06 July 2012
Daily Prayer - Friday 06 July 2012
“This is a dark time in the history of religious freedom and tolerance in Aceh,” said the spokesman of an Indonesian human rights group after the sealing of 17 Christian places of worship in the semi-autonomous province. The undungs, which are small buildings not classified as churches, were closed in early May after protests from hard-line Islamist groups. The authorities insist that only one church and four undungs may be built in Singkil, despite its having a Christian population of some 20,000. Elements of sharia are in force in Aceh, and although non-Muslims are exempt from it, the churches are coming under increasing attack. Pray for their protection, and that the Muslim majority will allow them to meet and worship without hindrance.






















