8-Year-Old Indonesian Boy Dies After Beating by Classmates Over Christian Faith

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – An 8-year-old Christian boy in Indonesia died from internal injuries after being brutally beaten by five older Muslim classmates, in what his family and church community say was a sustained campaign of religious bullying that turned deadly, International Christian Concern reported.

The victim, identified publicly only as “KB,” was a second-grade student in the village of Pangkalan Kasai, located in the Seberida district of Indragiri Hulu Regency, Riau Province. The attackers, ranging in age from 11 to 13, had reportedly bullied KB for his faith in Jesus over an extended period before the violence escalated on Monday, May 19.

According to KB’s father, Gimson Beni Butarbutar, the attackers targeted his son’s abdomen during the assault. “My child’s stomach was kicked, that’s why it’s swollen. The child doesn’t want to eat rice and even vomits blood,” he said. Despite meeting with school officials and the perpetrators’ families, KB’s condition worsened rapidly over the following days.

After being rushed to Indrasari Rengat Regional General Hospital, KB suffered convulsions and struggled to breathe. He died on Monday morning, May 26, from the injuries sustained in the beating. “He was my first child… I can’t believe all of this. I feel like I’m dreaming,” Butarbutar shared in grief.

The tragedy has sparked outrage and mourning within the local Christian community. Pastor Piet, who leads the GPDI Solagracia church attended by the family, described KB as a bright and devoted student who regularly participated in — and won — Sunday school Bible quizzes. “This child is diligent in Sunday school,” the pastor said.

Police are currently investigating the case. While authorities have yet to announce charges, KB’s parents are demanding justice for their son, whose only “crime” was his Christian faith.

Indonesia, while constitutionally guaranteeing religious freedom, has seen rising levels of Christian persecution in recent years, particularly in rural and conservative Muslim-majority regions. Christians, who make up around 10% of the population, often face societal pressure, discrimination, and occasional violence. Church buildings have been shuttered or burned, worship services disrupted, and believers harassed or attacked–especially in provinces like Aceh and West Java where hardline Islamist influence is strong.

Over the past 25 years, Christianity in Indonesia has experienced steady growth, both in absolute numbers and as a percentage of the population. In 2000, Christians comprised approximately 8.92% of the population, with 17.95 million believers. By 2023, that number had risen to 29.4 million, accounting for about 10.47% of the population.

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