10/17/2024 Indonesia (International Christian Concern) — As Indonesia’s new president and vice president prepare to take control on Oct. 20, the country’s nearly 30 million Christians hope to benefit from the leadership change.
President-Elect Prabowo Subianto will replace President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, and Vice President-Elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka will replace KH. Ma’ruf Amin. Subianto, a former military general who participated in the 2014 and 2019 presidential elections, won 58% of this year’s vote with more than 96 million votes.
Christians comprise 11% of the population of Indonesia, which is the second-largest Muslim country in the world. About 87% of the country’s population is Muslim.
Leading up to the election, which occurred in February, Christians were divided on whom to elect. In the previous two elections, Christians largely voted for Widodo, whom they saw as someone who would protect their rights as a minority religion. In this election, some Christians expressed concerns over Subianto’s previous support from radical Islamic groups and conservative Muslims, including the Islamist 212 Movement. Some Christians are concerned about the influence these groups have over Subianto.
Islamic extremists have long influenced moderate Muslims in Indonesia, and while the government doesn’t typically persecute Christians, it hasn’t always defended them either. While Christians can worship freely, it is illegal to evangelize, and it is difficult for Muslims to convert to Christianity. Christians who share the gospel and Muslims who convert to Christianity often face persecution from family, members of their community, and local governments. The province of Aceh has implemented Islamic law.
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