On October 30, 2005, Theresia Morangke (15), Alfita Poliwo (17) and Yarni Sambue (17) were beheaded by Muslim militants ^[1] as Ramadan trophies ^[2] in the Poso region of the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. The Islamic attackers planned the beheadings after a visit to Philippines jihadists who left a note with the severed heads which were dumped in a plastic bags in the girl's village stating: "Wanted: 100 more Christian heads, teenaged or adult, male or female; blood shall be answered with blood, soul with soul, head with head." ^[3] October 30 is the 303rd day of the year (304th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 62 days remaining. ... There is also a collection of Hadith called Sahih Muslim A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Persian: Mosalman or Mosalmon Urdu: مسلمان, Turkish: Müslüman, Albanian: Mysliman, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of the religion of Islam. ... The fourth pillar of Islam which is fasting is practiced during the month of Ramadan. ... Poso is the main port and transportation hub for the northeastern coast of Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. ... Location of Sulawesi Island (light green) among the various islands of Indonesia. ... Islam (Arabic:  ) is a monotheistic religion based upon the teachings of Muhammad, a 7th century Arab religious and political figure. ... Jihad (ǧihād جهاد) is an Arabic word which comes from the Arabic root word jahada, which means exerting utmost effort or to strive. The word connotes a wide range of meanings, from an inward spiritual struggle to attain perfect faith, to holy war. ...

The attack

The three teens were walking to their private Christian school in Central Sulawesi province with their friend Noviana Malewa, 15, when they were attacked by a group of six Muslim masked men armed with machetes. Malewa, the youngest, survived the attack with serious wounds to her neck. The attackers left one of the girls' heads outside a Christian church, and are believed by many to have been Islamist extremists connected to Laskar Jihad. The surviving girl was able to describe the attackers to the police. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Christianity. ... There is also a collection of Hadith called Sahih Muslim A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Persian: Mosalman or Mosalmon Urdu: مسلمان, Turkish: Müslüman, Albanian: Mysliman, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of the religion of Islam. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Islamism is a political ideology derived from the conservative religious views of Muslim fundamentalism. ... Laskar Jihad, or Holy War Warriors, was formed in 2000 in Ambon, Moluccan Islands, Indonesia, by Jafar Umar Thalib, who studied in Pakistan and fought with the mujahidin in Afghanistan in the late 1980s. ...

Five suspects, including a former military police officer, were arrested and later released for lack of evidence, although three were subsequently re-arrested. The trial of three men, Irwanto Irano, Lilik Purwanto and Hasanuddin began in November 2006. ^[4] In February 2007, prosecutors recommended 20-year jail sentences for all three defendants. The prosecutors said they were not seeking the death penalty because the defendants had shown remorse and been forgiven by the victims' families. ^[5] Sentence was passed on 21st March 2007. Hasanuddin was given 20 years for planning the attack, while two accomplices were given 14 years. Hasanuddin had told the court he helped plan the attack but rejected allegations he masterminded it. ^[6] Hasanuddin said going to jail did not concern him stating "It's not a problem (if I am being sentenced to prison) because this is a part of our struggle."^[7]

Local history

Hostilities last broke out in the area in 2001, following rumours that a Muslim girl had been raped by a Christian. Thousands died in the year following, and more than 60,000 families are reported to have fled their homes.^[8] Tensions have simmered since then, despite a police crackdown. There is also a collection of Hadith called Sahih Muslim A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Persian: Mosalman or Mosalmon Urdu: مسلمان, Turkish: Müslüman, Albanian: Mysliman, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of the religion of Islam. ...

A bomb in May 2005 in the nearby town of Tentena, which is predominantly Christian, killed twenty-two people and injured more than thirty ^[9], and despite the Jakarta government's insistence that the violence was the work of local criminal gangs hoping to benefit from the chaos, analysts suggest that Islamist militants have been launching terror attacks on Central Sulawesi in order to set the foundation for an Islamic state. Days after the killings, two 17 year-old schoolgirls were shot in the same area, which is predominantly Muslim. Jakarta (also Djakarta or DKI Jakarta), formerly known as Sunda Kelapa, Jayakarta and Batavia is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. ... There is also a collection of Hadith called Sahih Muslim A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Persian: Mosalman or Mosalmon Urdu: مسلمان, Turkish: Müslüman, Albanian: Mysliman, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of the religion of Islam. ...

References

1. ^ BBC News: Indonesians jailed for beheadings
2. ^ Beheaded girls were Ramadan 'trophies'
3. ^ Beheaded girls were Ramadan 'trophies'
4. ^ Indonesia beheadings trial opens, BBC, 8 November, 2006
5. ^ Prison demand for Poso suspects, BBC, 21 November, 2007
6. ^ Indonesians jailed for beheadings, BBC, 21 March, 2007
7. ^ BBC News: Indonesians jailed for beheadings
8. ^ Dan McDougall, Machete killings fuel Indonesia's religious hatred, The Guardian, 20 November, 2005
9. ^ Blasts strike Indonesian market , BBC, 28 May, 2005

The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC (and also informally known as the Beeb or Auntie) is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GB£4 billion... November 8 is the 312th day of the year (313th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 53 days remaining. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC (and also informally known as the Beeb or Auntie) is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GB£4 billion... November 21 is the 325th day of the year (326th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC (and also informally known as the Beeb or Auntie) is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GB£4 billion... March 21 is the 80th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (81st in leap years). ... The Guardian is a British newspaper owned by the Guardian Media Group. ... November 20 is the 324th day of the year (325th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC (and also informally known as the Beeb or Auntie) is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GB£4 billion... May 28 is the 148th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (149th in leap years). ...

External links

• BBC News: Three Indonesian girls beheaded
• Voice of America: 3 Christian Indonesian Schoolgirls Beheaded in Area of Religious Tension
• BBC News: Alert after Indonesia beheadings