In the United States, one freedom that we enjoy every day, that many other countries do not, is the freedom of Religion. One country that has recently experienced problems with this is Indonesia, a primarily Muslim country. This week Muslim Protesters stormed a courthouse, and even burned down two Christian churches in central Java. The reasoning behind the protest came after a Christian man was sentenced to five years in jail, for giving out Christian literature that was considered to be insulting to Islamic faith. The protesters began to act out following his sentencing, which they believed was too lenient, and that he should have received the death penalty.
To see that one man and a group of people that have the same beliefs as this man, are being attacked by another group is an extreme violation of human rights. Although no one was physically harmed, harming the churches, a symbol of their beliefs, and what many what is believed to be a safe place, not only instills fear, but is a way of undermining the Christians of the area. From what many in the industrialized world believe as fair human and civil rights, this is an extreme violation. No one person should be condemned for their religious beliefs, in any sitioution. Also, he should have received a fair trial of his peers (including other Christians) and should have received aid and protection from the government following his sentencing. Although the western world is in no way completely fair, and treats everyone fairly, I just hope that someday the world as a whole can learn to tolerate the differences in one another.
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