Muslim Youth Who Died Shielding Bomb With His Body To Save Christmas Congregants Honoured
He was only 25 years old.
By Liew Ashley — 28 Dec 2019, 01:46 PM
A Muslim youth who gave his life while protecting Christmas congregants from a bomb attack was honoured this week via a fundraiser
Riyanto was a member of Indonesia's largest Islamic group Nahdlatul Ulama's (NU) youth wing called Multipurpose Ansor Front, better known as Banser.
The 25-year-old died on 24 December 2000 while making his rounds at the Eben Haezer Church in Mojokerto, East Java.
On the day on the incident, Riyanto was patrolling the church with four other Banser members when news came about a suspicious black package
According to The Jakarta Post, Riyanto opened the package and upon seeing electrical cables, he covered the package with his body, telling the congregants to take cover.
The bomb exploded, killing him and damaging the church’s concrete walls.
To honour his sacrifice, the Twitter account of Katolik Garis Lucu set up a fundraiser on a crowdfunding platform on 8 December this year
"Katolik Garis Lucu wants to give a gift to Riyanto’s family and his four friends who were on duty at the time," the twitter account wrote on Kitabisa, Indonesia's largest crowdfunding platform.
"In the midst of the challenges that our nation continues to face, Riyanto reminds us that our duty as human beings does not fade with any differences. Diversity is a richness that colours our life as Indonesians."
The fundraising effort managed to garner Rp106 million (over RM31,000) donations, exceeding its initial target of Rp50 million
The fundraising window has since been closed, with the Katolik Garis Lucu Twitter account announcing that the funds raised would soon be given to the families.
"Today is the 15th day of fundraising for Riyanto and friends. We will hand over the money raised at St. Yoseph Catholic Church in Mojokerto on Sunday, 29 December. We are currently organising it with all the parties involved. Thank you for all of your participation," the account tweeted.
