You have the guts to publish news about blatant human rights violations that almost no other paper in this country would dare to publish, for fear of losing its secure position in this society.

I have often thought that it is entirely possible that God, our Creator, in His infinite wisdom, may place certain tests for entering heaven on the paths of life of every thinking and feeling creation of His — and this includes, of course, human beings.

And it is entirely possible that these divine tests, which also involve the use of true compassion, understanding, and love for our fellow creations, are, more often than not, so delicate and so inconspicuous that they are invisible to eyes of those who are only concentrating on amassing as much power and worldly wealth as they possibly can during their stay on earth.

I believe that stories about these kinds of divine tests have been around for hundreds and perhaps even thousands of years, and they are beloved by the devoted adherents of many religions and faiths worldwide.

A poor widow helps a homeless, hungry man — and he turns out to be a prophet with magic powers who actually helps her to greatly improve her life.

A criminal, upon hearing the words: “Quo vadis?” coming from apparently nowhere, reforms and, later on, becomes a saint, Saint Paul. The examples are endless. And let’s not forget what the wise fox said in Antoine de Saint Exupéry’s story: The Little Prince – that the things that are truly important, those that really matter, are invisible to the eye.

But it seems that many of those people who are now occupying positions of high power and are enjoying tremendous wealth and security have forgotten that.

I personally like to think that the case of the Ahmadiyah people in Indonesia (not only those long-suffering souls now literally incarcerated in what I prefer to call the Wisma Transito concentration camp in Mataram, but also elsewhere) is God’s Own Examination for all of the Indonesian Government Officials and all the members of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) who have actually caused the Ahmadiyah people to experience so much suffering, those who have allowed the release of the edict declaring Ahmadiyah a heretic sect, and those who have actually turned a blind eye to all that tormenting of the Ahmadiyah people which has been going on for years and years.

Those who are responsible for the suffering of the Ahmadiyah people and those who have cravenly allowed the trampling of the human rights of these gentle people will, of course, not believe my words.

And that may very well be a part of God’s Test — which the skeptics are blind to and will not believe what is actually a true warning.

I personally believe that all of those who have actually contributed to the disgraceful violation of the human rights of the Ahmadiyah people, and those who actually knew very well that this was very wrong but who, for the sake of safeguarding their own secure positions, didn’t speak up against it, will have to bear the terrible consequences once their souls are called to stand before the Creator and have to justify their decisions and actions. The only one who may “play God” is God Himself.

Tami Koestomo
Bogor, West Java

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