three Indonesian Christian men sentenced to death.
The Christian campaign group ‘Open Doors’ and the Evangelical Alliance UK, which represents
over one million British evangelicals, made the appeal after Indonesian authorities postponed Saturday, August 12, the execution of Fabianus Tibo, 60, Dominggus da Silva, 39, and Marinus Riwu, 48.
They were found guilty of involvement in clashes between Christians and Muslims in 2000 in the province of Central Sulawesi in which at least 1,000 people died. The men have denied the charges and human rights groups claim they were sentenced based on "shaky evidence" as even Muslim witnesses testified in their favor.
In a statement to BosNewsLife Open Doors and the Evangelical Alliance said they believe that the case against the three men is "seriously flawed." The organizations said they were "calling for a complete review of the evidence against them, and the judicial process" which led to the death sentences.
"INSUBSTENTIAL EVIDENCE"
"We believe that there is insubstantial evidence upon which to base such a draconian and irreversible verdict," said Eddie Lyle, CEO of Open Doors UK and Ireland. "The Indonesian authorities need to be reminded that the Body of Christ around the world has reason to doubt the impartiality of this judgment," Lyle added.
Elfed Godding, the General Secretary of the Evangelical Alliance, Wales, said it was important that the Indonesian Government would grant "a stay of execution and a complete review of the case against Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus da Silva and Marinus Riwu."
He warned that proceeding with Thursday’s planned execution "would be a travesty of justice and human rights, and would risk fracturing the fragile equilibrium that exists between different ethnic and religious groups in Indonesia." (With reports from London and Jakarta).
