INDONESIA – Evangelist faces challenges in prison
09/08/06
Forced to confess, he fears what Christians think
Abe Bentar: Pressured in prison by Muslim fanatics
Although gradually recovering from the stroke that impaired his right arm, Abe still struggles with high blood pressure and diabetes. Because of the medicines and food brought by his wife and a local church however, he manages well.
The evangelist says he is battling discouragement and fear. When Open Doors visited him, it took a while before agreed to meet with them as he has received several unwanted visitors amongst whom were Muslim 'visitors' attempting to reconvert Abe to his former religion, Islam.
"I have been abused many times. I have lost six teeth because of that," Abraham explained.
In a prison of almost 400 inmates, Abe shares a cell with four other people. However, he finds no difficulty in having personal quiet time and worship sessions:
"Every day, I wake up at 3:00am to pray and sing praises. I stop after an hour, to give my cellmates a turn to pray," he explained.
He is free to fellowship with four other Christian prisoners on Sundays. Although he can deliver a sermon, he is prohibited from mentioning Jesus Christ: "I have to say 'God' instead," he reports.
Other, Muslim prisoners can hear the worship songs and seem to enjoy the melody, Abraham said, although they do not really understand what the songs are about.
Abe's other activities include sports and doormat-making. He says, "[Making doormats] is very hard for me. I used to be a respected person when I was a free man. But now, I have to do this kind of [menial] work," he said.
Abe enjoys good relationships with the prison wardens. However, he is wary of being transferred to a prison in Central Java as he fears he might be mistreated by the wardens there.
On the other hand, this transfer will bring him closer to his wife Waty, aged 36, and daughter Rinda, 14.
It is difficult for a father like Abe to accept his present circumstances, but he realises, "[This is] nothing compared to what Paul and Jesus himself went through."
Despite challenges in adjusting to life behind bars, Abe is able to forgive those who persecute him.
Forced to confess
Abraham was accused of defaming Islam and its "prophet" Muhammad. At his second hearing on 31 May, the judges found him guilty and sentenced him as charged.
It was during that hearing that Abraham, through his lawyer, confessed to the charges.
The day before the hearing, several Muslim fanatics visited him in the prison. They interrogated him, saying,"Tell me, what have you gained by becoming a Christian?"
Abraham replied, "Jesus Christ has been blessing me abundantly."
A blow landed on Abraham's head. When asked to recite the shahada (the Islamic faith declaration), Abraham refused. He received another blow.
If not for threats jeopardising several churches in his district, Abe would have held on to his plea of innocence.
"I was forced to confess under great pressure," he said. "I am not guilty as charged; but other Christians must think I deserve to be jailed."
Open Doors has been assisting Abe's family by paying the rent on their house in Central Java.
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