SMS: Banning Ahmadiyah

Thu, 04/24/2008 12:25 PM  |  Reader's Forum

President SBY should be extra wise and quick in deciding the issue. He has to discuss it with strategic, logical, smart, non-political team. Then, he himself must decide.
NANIK SUMARGININGSIH
Malang, East Java

On Ahmadiyah's behalf, I can only say: "Give us this day our daily life and forgive us as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil."
FRANS EFBE
Bandung

The extremist groups must be banned, not Ahmadiyah.
MULYOADI
Jakarta

Let God take care of "heretics" and let the government focus on economic problems instead.
PERRY
Bogor, West Java

Democracy is still far away. This smells like pure fascism.
C. V. D. KRUK
Yogyakarta

Corruption is the source of all evil which must be fought with all the nation's might, not petty harmless breaches of religion!
LALA
Jakarta

The President or anyone can say what they think is right for them. But remember guys, who are you to judge?
RAHDIAN
Jakarta

Before SBY makes a decision, he should remember: God has given brains to all. Everyone should have right to choose the way they want to pray to God.
TEJ
Jakarta

It's stupid even to begin dealing with the sect. You deal with a complicated problem when obvious ones are yet to be solved. They care so much about their "image" yet they let their people live in poverty. And it's not only poverty, it's living standards, unemployment, pollution and oil prices.
PATRICK
Jakarta

First blocking Fitna now banning a religious sect. Why is the government of Indonesia so preoccupied with the morals of its citizens by curbing freedom of speech while every day some member of the government is charged with graft and corruption?

Do these acts of blocking and banning ease their own guilt? Why doesn't the government deal with the physical well being of the nation such as the price of rice or health or flooding or pollution instead of hypocritical acts to stop spiritual erosion?! What a sad, pathetic "democracy".
FRANK
Toronto

Not to ban JAI but remind Indonesians that the country is a constitutional one. Law should take its course.
AHER
Yogyakarta

The government doesn't have to ban Ahmadiyah. It's true that their prophet is Mirza. So Ahmadiyah should be allowed as a new religion, out of Islam.
EKA
Jakarta

Who told you that Ahmadiah is deviant? Do they teach us violence? Ask your heart, are you really the truth? Stay away from faith's domain! Do your own job, make our economy grow. That's more respectable.
JASON
Jakarta

SBY should remind legislators that Indonesia is a secular state, not a religious one. And they have to address the real issues: poor education quality, corruption, pollution and lawlessness.
LES PATTISON
Jakarta

SBY should tactfully decline the recommendation by clearly stating that while Ahmadiyah is a heretical sect, its right to existence is fully protected under the Constitution. Agreeing to a total ban will lead to more bloody mayhem. Banning Ahmadiyah grossly violates the spirit upon which Indonesia is built.
AZMIL TAYEB
Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan

The government decree to ban Ahmadiyah will be based on a 1965 law on prevention of disgracing and misusing religion. Ahmadiyah is a sect of Islam. They are not disgracing any religion. They have different belief, that's all. Every human must have the right of religious belief. Islam doesn't encourage forceful imposition of religion. Everybody should have human rights to practice their religion.
TASLIMA
Jakarta

We must ban such an obvious deviant of Islam as soon as possible. Otherwise SBY can ask them to submit a new name of religion instead of Islam. If not, we will soon appear Islam C, Islam P, Islam B, etc.
R. GUNAWAN
Jakarta

What an abominable act and very inhumane. Indonesia is not an Islamic country. We have our own cultural background even in the way to pray to God Almighty. The government should ban all those people who always creates chaos in society, instead.
LIA ATMADJA
Jakarta

I totally agree that Ahmadiyah be banned in Indonesia.
JEJE
Jakarta

Suppression is not a political and democratic solution. Ahmadiyah will go underground and militancy is the next step.
RUDOLFO
Surabaya

I think the President shouldn't directly give his word to ban Ahmadiyah. Banning a religious sect is not the government's authority. The government should only provide a forum for dialogue between all Islamic organizations and Ahmadiyah.
EDI
Bandung

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