Gratia Pello

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Indonesia

Religion or Belief: Christian – Orthodox

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: December//2022

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Blasphemy (General) Blasphemy (Religious Figures) Blasphemy (Religious Texts) Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Online Activity

Nature of Charges: Unknown

Gratia Pello

Extra Bio Info:

Gratia Pello was imprisoned for his religious expression.

In December 2022, authorities in Surabaya, East Java, reportedly arrested Pello, a professor at a Christian theological school, for his popular YouTube videos, in which he often compared Christianity to Islam. Police reportedly questioned Pello over comments he made about Muhammad in a February 2022 video.

On April 17, 2023, a Malan district court judge sentenced Pello to two years, six months' imprisonment for blasphemy.

On February 20, 2024, Pello was released on parole lasting through December.

Publicly Available Information:

"Police Arrest Christian Apologist in Indonesia" Morning Star News
"Indonesian Apologist Vanished Following December Arrest" International Christian Concern (ICC)
"Indonésie: un théologien chrétien arrêté, sa famille menacée" Portes Ouvertes