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Indonesia: Islamic Social Media Campaign Stokes Hostility Over Spread of Christianity

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – An Islamic social media campaign has come under condemnation for using controversial statistics and statements to stir up fear and strife over the spread of Christianity in Indonesia, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.

Known by the hashtag #SaveMaryam, the Islamic social media campaign has disseminated hostile online content arguing that, with 2 million Muslims converting to Christianity every year, Indonesia will cease to be a Muslim-majority nation by 2035.

“Approximately 2 million people in Indonesia leave Islam for Christianity every year,” the Save Maryam campaign says in the English language on its YouTube page. Urging viewers to watch the YouTube video, the campaign asks: “How did we get the figure ‘2 million’? Why is this the case? Why are people not satisfied with Islam? Why are they willing to abandon Allah?”

“Join us in our mission to save a generation of Indonesians and help us bring Islam back into their lives. Spread the word. Save Maryam,” the campaign adds.

Critics of the campaign have accused it of being “alarmist,” ICC reports. According to ICC, critics say the campaign is “creating unnecessary religious tension and giving inaccurate information to raise more funds for their activities.”

In a website statement about the situation facing Christians in Indonesia, the Open Doors international Christian advocacy organization reports: “The situation for Christians has been deteriorating in recent years, with Indonesian society increasingly influenced by conservative interpretations of Islam. Polls regularly show that especially young people hold conservative views, and by-laws on Islamic dress are becoming more common.”

Home to the largest Muslim population (212 million) in the world, Indonesia ranks 42 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.