Islamists jailed for beheading schoolgirls

Three militant Islamists have been given prison sentences of up to 20 years for the beheadings of three Christian schoolgirls in 2005, welcome news to the Christians in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, according to a report from Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

"We are pleased that justice has finally prevailed following the brutal attack on the three schoolgirls in 2005," said Mervyn Thomas, president of CSW. "However, the pattern of violence continues in Indonesia. We urge both the Christian and Muslim communities to work with the authorities in Central Sulawesi to put an end to this cycle of attacks once and for all.

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"We also ask the authorities to ensure that minorities are treated fairly and equally by the judiciary," he said.

His concerns were echoed by others in the region, where several Christians also now are on trial for alleged terrorist activities, but they are facing a potential death penalty, officials reported.

They were arrested for the murders of two Muslim men during demonstrations that followed the executions of three Christians last September, officials said.

Islamist Hasanuddin, the son- in-law of Islamist militant leader Adnan Arsal, reportedly has trained in the Philippines with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. He said the attack on the schoolgirls was in revenge for Christians killing Muslims during the early stages of the sectarian conflict in Central Sulawesi.

Hasanuddin was given 20 years in prison for masterminding the attack in October 2005 in which the three girls were beheaded, and a fourth was seriously injured. According to CSW, his accomplices, Lilik Purnomo and Irwanto Irano, each got 14 years in prison.

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"Whilst the Christian community in the area welcomes the verdict, they are concerned that this and a recent crackdown on militants in the area will result in the authorities imposing harsher penalties on Christians in an attempt to be seen to treat both communities equally," CSW said.

Noviana Malewa, after treatments to minimize scarring from the machete attack

The schoolgirls were attacked while on their way to school that morning. The fourth, Noviana Malewa, was slashed horribly on her neck and face but managed to flee the area and survive.

The militants put the heads of the three girls in plastic bags and dumped them in nearby villages with notes stating, "We still need another 100 heads. Blood for blood, a life for life and a head for a head."

As WND reported, Noviana and three of her friends were walking on a school path Oct. 29, 2005, when they were assaulted by radical Islamic jihadists wielding machetes.

Noviana fought back as she was struck, then fell to the ground and rolled down into a ravine. Above, she heard her friends screaming. She later had to be hidden in a Christian village and guarded by police because her testimony was needed in court, and the radical Muslims who had killed her friends still were hunting her.

Authorities said Theresia Morangke, 15, Yarni Sambue, 15, and Alfita Poliwo, 17, were killed in the attack.

Reports in the Jakarta Post said the Islamic suspects confessed to the fatal attack. Authorities reported the suspects have ties to Noordin Top, considered a key leader of the al-Qaida-linked group Jamaah Islamiyah.

In the still-developing case against the 12 men, officials note they have been charged both under the anti-terrorism laws and under the criminal law, and members of the Christian community view it as an attempt to demonstrate authorities are not singling out the Muslim community for terrorist activities.

CSW said the trial comes at a time when about 20 Islamist militants have been arrested or killed in the last three months in an ongoing security operation in Central Sulawesi. The crackdown follows attacks including bombings, targeted killings of Christian leaders and killings of eyewitnesses to the attacks and the judiciary.

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