Ulma Haryanto – Human rights groups on Thursday accused the state of failing to uphold the law after a Bekasi court gave light sentences to 13 Muslim hard-liners linked to an attack on members of a Protestant church congregation.

Murhali Barda, head of the Bekasi chapter of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), was found guilty of inciting the September attack that culminated in the stabbing of Asia Sihombing and the beating of Rev. Luspida Simandjuntak, two leaders of the Batak Christian Protestant Church (HKBP).

Presiding judge Wasdi Permana sentenced Murhali to five months and 15 days in jail for "unpleasant conduct," 15 days less than what prosecutor Prioretha had recommended. Factoring in the time he has already spent in detention since his arrest, Murhali will be released on Sunday.

Rights activists claimed that prosecutors had bowed to pressure from the FPI and had showed from the start of the trial that they were not serious in sending a message to religious vigilante groups.

"From the beginning the indictment was too light. Despite the fact that Murhali was proven guilty, other people doing what he's doing will not be wary," said Rumadi, program coordinator at the Wahid Institute, a lobby group for pluralism.

In separate hearings on Thursday, Adji Ahmad Faisal was sentenced to seven months for the attack on Asia, while Ade Firman was found guilty of beating Luspida and sentenced to six months. Eight other defendants received sentences of five months and 15 days, while two minors were released into the custody of their parents.

Murhali did not participate in the attack, but was later indicted for making virulent anti-Christian statements on the radio, through text messages and on his Facebook page.

The attack took place as the congregation was on its way to Ciketing, where it had been holding services after authorities sealed off the house it was using as a church in nearby Pondok Timur Indah.

The judge on Thursday told Murhali he had misused his power in calling on Bekasi Muslims to protest against the HKBP's services. "It was not your call to forbid people from praying," Wasdi said. "As a religious leader, you could have been wiser in addressing your people about religious activities from other religions that you considered as being against the rules."

Setara Institute researcher Ismail Hasani said the verdict would only encourage the radicalization of hard-liners. "Now these people will think of [Murhali] as a hero. What kind of deterrent effect is that?"

Nurkholis Hidayat, from the Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation (LBH), recommended that the Judicial Commission and the Supreme Court advise their colleagues not to bow to pressure from vigilante groups.

"If not, then there's danger. The convicts and others who think like them are no longer afraid to repeat their crimes," Nurkholis said.

Murhali's lawyer, Saleh Mangara Sitompul, said after sentencing that he was still considering whether to appeal "because we want Murhali to be declared as not guilty."