At least four Christian farmers were reported killed by suspected terrorists in Indonesia’s Central Sulawesi province on May 11.
The group International Christian Concern (ICC) reported that the farmers were harvesting coffee when they were attacked by five sword-wielding men.
An eyewitness said the attackers were carrying firearms and bladed weapons. The witness identified one of the attackers as a member of the Eastern Indonesia Mujahideen.
ICC described the attack on the Christians as “brutal,” with one victim reportedly beheaded.
“Everything the victims had was taken away by the perpetrators including rice, money, and other belongings they kept in their huts,” a police officer was quoted by ICC.
In November, the the Sulawesi-based group, which are reportedly linked to the so-called Islamic State, burned down a Salvation Army church post and several Christian houses
At least four Christians were also reported hacked to death.
Gina Goh, regional manager of ICC for Southeast Asia, condemned “the brutal death of these Christian-majority Toraja farmers.”
“While [the perpetrators’] motive is yet to be confirmed, the fact that the atrocities were committed two days before Eid al-Fitr and only months apart from when they killed four Christians … in a similar fashion is senseless and heinous,” she said.
ICC, an ecumenical organization that advocates for the rights of Christians and religious minorities, called on the Indonesian government “to root out the [extremist group] before they claim more innocent lives.”