Jakarta, Indonesia, Jul 2, 2010 / 01:00 am
Commenting on the rise of attacks by extremist Muslim groups in Indonesia, a local priest told Fides news on Thursday that a government weakened by corruption is partly to blame for the unrest.
On July 1, Fides reported on a recently launched campaign by several Islamic extremist groups, allegedly fighting “against the Christianization of Indonesia” and for “the adoption of Sharia in the country.”
In the past week, Bekasi, a town close Jakarta, has been hosting a conference for over 200 leaders of radical Islamic groups, including the Islam Defender Front (FPI), the "Bekasi Movement Against Apostates,” and the “Islamic Ummah Forum.”
Fr. Emmanuel Harja, priest of the Diocese of Jakarta and Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Indonesia, denounced the groups and gave his opinions as to why he believes the extremists are allowed to flourish.