Muslims Here Look Different

[DorisDaze]

The International Crisis Group claims terrorist cells are behind attacks against Christians in central Sulawesi during the past three years.

Those attacks were previously thought to be an extension of local sectarian violence between Muslims and Christians that has plagued the area since 2001. But research by the Brussels-based policy institute shows that the attacks were engineered by the regional terror network, Jemaah Islamiah, as part of its agenda to escalate religious conflict.

Jemaah Islamiah is connected to bombings in Indonesia, including blasts in Bali in 2002 that killed 202 people.

Members of an Indonesian anti-terror squad take part in a raid on an Islamic militant stronghold in Poso, 22 Jan 2007
Members of an Indonesian anti-terror squad take part in a raid on an Islamic militant stronghold in Poso, 22 Jan 2007
The report warns the Sulawesi violence could spread. Anger at police raids this month could radicalize militants who have previously opposed attacks on Western targets, boosting Indonesia's weakened militant movement, says Sidney Jones, director of the Crisis Group's Jakarta office.

"The problem now is, and it is a real serious danger, is that the jihad in the Poso area that has up till now been primarily focused on revenge against local Christians will in fact turn into a jihad against the police, and that is what needs to be avoided at all costs," said Jones.

A January 11 raid on militant hideouts in Central Sulawesi province caused an influx of mujahedin fighters to help defend remaining members of Jemaah Islamiah. Fifteen people were killed in a three-hour shootout on Monday in Poso, the provincial capital.

The raids were aimed at capturing 20 key militant leaders placed on a most wanted list in May 2006.

In the report, Sidney Jones calls for the Indonesian government to move quickly to calm rising tensions. She questions whether police used excessive force in the raid on Monday.

"Well I think the government has to move extremely quickly to both explain why these individuals were wanted, exactly what they had done, but then I also think it is important that they investigate the way the operations were conducted so that the anger against the police is at least addressed and people can see through an independent investigation whether additional measures could have been taken to prevent these casualties or not," said Jones.

Central Sulawesi remains scarred by sectarian conflicts between Muslims and Christians that have killed more than 1,000 people since 2001.

Most Indonesians are Muslim and together form the largest Muslim population in the world. However in the city of Poso approx half the population is Christian leading to Muslim persecution and hostility in the region of Sulawesi.

It has generated western media attention in the past but is often overlooked as the Muslims here don't fit the western stereotype.

Here are some of the victims of persecution attacks from this region.........

[skidmark steve]

why is that bitch laughing?

I hate all of these sick bastards. Grrrrrrrrrr

[DorisDaze]

I think she's crying, guy with his head hanging off could be her husband

[jamesbenle]

Well i just want to make some correction here....
those pictures weren't muslims picture and wasn't happened in Sulawesi....

Those pictures were the pictures during (2000/2001)ethnicity riot between Dayak and Maduranese Ethnic (both are Indonesian) in Sampit, South Kalimantan

See here for further info : [nomedia]www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9NMnFARco8[/nomedia]

[DorisDaze]

Nope my source is good and persecution attacks are ethnically motivated, these images are not from a single riot......your link doesn't work

[cro]

Seriously, i dont even know what to put here for once.

[Azimuth]

Oh, Islam is so peaceful...mmm...koolaid.

[ILDiva]

I think it's a crock that anybody has to die for, or because of their religious beliefs.

[Viking64]

Originally Posted by ILDiva

I think it's a crock that anybody has to die for, or because of their religious beliefs.

Agreed. That has already been taken care of.

[TheChickULuv2Hat3]

savages