Welhelmina Holle could not understand. Day and night, she asked herself why she was put behind bars. The prosecutors accused her of a crime she has never committed: defaming Islam during an extracurricular class that never took place. The 49-year-old elementary school teacher was not even in town that day. Worse still, rumor of the incident ignited a massive protest, leading up to the rampage of 67 homes, two churches, and three vehicles on December 9, 2008. For this, Masohi townspeople despised her. Even Christians sneered at her.
Three days after the riot, police detained the teacher and Asmara Wasahua, a politician of a fundamental Muslim party who orchestrated the riot. “At the prosecutor’s office, they put me in what they call a mouse cell for a week,” recounted Holle (read as: Ho-lay). “I was constantly on my knees, praying. Unable to eat, I assured myself I would survive on prayers and His Word.”
Law Violations by Authorities
When officials announced that the trial would start on February 2009, Holle soon realized her need of legal assistance. “I asked God for one lawyer, but He sent me two,” she said. One of the two lawyers, NoiaFileoPistos, offered his service pro bono, as soon as he heard the teacher’s case.
Holle was charged on multiple grounds, breaching Article 156 of the Criminal Code on religious blasphemy, and Article 310 on public insult. Seven students, aged 10 to 13, and seven fellow teachers testified at the court. “At some of the hearings, two trucks of police were deployed to provide safety. This does not normally happen,” said Lawyer Pistos.
On charges of blasphemy, Holle was innocent. Judges were convinced that the testimonies of the under aged students testimonies were unreliable, and so failed to pass as evidence. On the second charge of insult, however, the teacher was found guilty. After 12 hearings, judges sentenced Holle to a year of imprisonment on April 28, 2009. “When I heard the verdict, I accepted it. But deep down, I was discontent with the injustice, as I was innocent,” she said.
The second charge referred to an incident in 2007, where the teacher cursed a student who kicked a ball at her chest. The problem was settled immediately, after Holle apologised to her student and professed to the school principal. According to law, Holle’s misconduct is obsolete and could not be charged, since a year had already lapsed, and no one filed a complaint. Court officials brought it up nonetheless.
The Criminal Code spelled a maximum penalty of nine months in jail for public insult. “ The judges violated the law by sending Holle to a year in prison,” said Lawyer Pistos. “If a Muslim is jailed for a year, so a Christian must be [jailed].” Head of Masohi prison seconded his view, and told Holle that she had to relinquish her freedom for the sake of, “containing the anger of townspeople.” Two of Wasahua’s accomplices were also sent to prison.
Restored Relationship with God
For almost 25 years, Holle dedicated her life to education, teaching Mathematics and Indonesian Language at a public elementary school in Masohi. When the religious conflict flared in 1999, she was the only Christian teacher in the school who continued. She was devoted that, “when the church bells rang on Sundays, I took my books [instead of my Bible] and taught.” Holle was so consumed in her teaching that she forgot her devotion to the Lord. “Working in a Muslim environment sometimes made me ignore Him,” she admitted.
It was through this turmoil that Holle was reminded of God’s faithfulness. “I can only marvel at God’s fatihfulness. From detention, to court hearings, leading up to the verdict, He was always by my side,” she said.
Holle uttered a simple prayer—that the Lord would reveal the truth in the courtroom. He did. The teacher asked God for one of the seven students to testify in her favor. To her amazement, not one, but three students stood up for her. “Among them was the class’ troublemaker whom I never really liked,” she recounted. “I was touched when he boldly said, “Our teacher has never insulted Islam!””
Since then, the teacher’s relationship with God has been renewed. Holle filled her days in prison with prayer, Bible reading, and songs of worship. “Unlike before, I always make time to pray at the prison chapel, because it strengthens me greatly. I came to realise that God allowed this imprisonment to draw me closer to Him,” she said.
The only woman among the 65 prisoners, Holle has been well treated. Aware of her innocence, inmates and wardens respected and called her ‘Sister’ or ‘Mother’. Holle would initiate daily fellowships and share the Gospel with other prisoners, challenging murderers, robbers, and corruptors to repent and submit to God.
The prison head, aware of her teaching skills, would ask her to tutor his child. “I jokingly told him to pay me not with money, but with remission of jail term,” she said with a smile. “Once, I told him how ashamed I felt to be a prisoner. But he replied, ‘you are indeed a prisoner, but a prisoner of truth. There is nothing to be ashamed of. I was comforted and strengthened.”
Road to Complete Healing
Despite her spiritual growth in God, loneliness and confusion often visited her. “Then I would pray in my cell. I pray especially for my persecutors, so that God would forgive them and bless them abundantly. To Him I lift up all my struggles,” she said.
Several times during her detention, Holle met the man who set her up. Wasahua, also sentenced to a year in the same prison, was responsible for distributing the hate pamphlets, mobilizing the protest, and stirring the riot. One time at the prosecutor’s office, Holle, Wasahua, and three other people prayed together. “In a loud voice, I asked God to forgive all the sins we have committed before him,” she said. Wasahua broke in tears.
When Open Doors visited the teacher on June, she looked composed and relaxed. In the middle of the conversation, however, she broke in tears and repeatedly cried out to Jesus. Her mind has accepted the injustice that has been brought upon her, but she still struggles in her heart. For Holle, releasing total forgiveness and embracing injustice remain a daily cross she bears. “In the beginning, I felt bitter from all the accusations and insults. But God rebuked me, and assured me of my innocence [through people around me],” she said.
Holle is a mother of two married daughters and a single son. The oldest daughter is now taking care of her brother. Every week, they visit and provide for her needs. Pastors of the local church regularly minister to her. Holle’s relatives also support her by, among others, covering legal expenses. Nevertheless, the teacher still pleaded for prayers. “Please pray that God will use me as His tool in this place. I just want to spread His Good News,” she said.
Prayer Points:
We praise the Lord for providing Holle with legal assistance, daily needs, and comfort through family and friends. Continue to pray for a complete emotional healing, and for the Lord to honor her desire to be an effective preacher.
Holle has admitted to her need for correction and God’s mercy. Pray that Holle will see her being in imprison as one of God’s ways to discipline and purify her. May she respond to her situation that will glorify God through her life.
Continue to pray for peace and security in Masohi, a town located in post-conflict Maluku. May God repel any attempt to revive the religious upheaval, which claimed over 7,000 lives from 1999 to 2001.