SMS: Banning Ahmadiyah

Mon, 04/28/2008 11:40 AM  |  Reader's Forum

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

Welcome to the Middle Ages. Welcome to the time of persecution in the name of God.
BAHAR
Bandung

The President/the government should let the people be free to chose their faith. It is a fundamental human right.
JACOB
Medan, North Sumatra

Congratulations, Indonesia, as you embark on the road of religious persecution with the illustrious company of Hitler's Germany and Stalin's USSR.
STEVE
Jakarta

Things like this make me think there is a need for a law to separate religious and state affairs. So what's next? Capital punishment for an atheist?
ANGGA
Sumedang, West Java

He must also ban other sects. What right do they have to decide that one's belief is right or wrong?
ADE
Jakarta

Does Ahmadiyah harm the state and its people? Mr. President, you should ban none but those who harm their neighbors.
AZHAR L.S.
Jakarta

President SBY should free Jamaah Ahmadiyah to worship their God.
MARBAN
Padang, West Sumatra

I have a Shi'ite background, my wife is Sunni. I agree with the Indonesian government. The restriction, however, should be carried out peacefully. Make it clear that there will be no disgracing Prophet Muhammad.

Freedom of religion does not include disgracing the Holy Koran and the Prophet. But Allah asks us not to use violence against infidels. It would only create more terror organizations.
ABBAS
Sydney

I think the government should not worry too much. They are a lot of things need to be done. Do not lose the focus.
RUDY SALIM
Jakarta

The government should become the mediator in solving this problem. The issue has to be discussed internally first by the MUI, which has issued the declaration to ban the sect.
FIKRI ZAKI
Yogyakarta

Be democratic please? People who are educated won't be driven by such conservative ideas. People say that Indonesia is a democratic country. Therefore, pluralism and liberalism should be regarded as the defining criteria of a modern democratic society.
VISSIA ITA Y
Jakarta

Learning from the result of my research two years ago about Ahmadiyah in Bulukumba regency, South Sulawesi, I can conclude that it is not easy to ban Ahmadiyah. When the regency disbanded the sect, the followers continue to practice their beliefs. The government should be persuasive to deal with the issue.
HENDRIYADI
Jakarta

As a Muslim, the President must ban Ahmadiyah because the belief is not Islamic and eventually their presence will cause conflict. If President Susilo Bambang allows Ahmadiyah to exist then he clearly is not a pure Muslim at heart and should not be trusted anymore by the Islamic community. The Holy Koran is very clear to understand.
JERRY D. GRAY
Jakarta*

SBY has to be open minded about this problem. Maybe he can ask for more details about the issue to some theologians. As a President, he has to think globally and not take sides with any religious group.
MEI
Bandung

Ignore the recommendation as there is no ground to ban Ahmadiyah. Let's not waste our time and energy for a thing which does no harm to the whole nation. We must focus on our objective to put our country back in an honored position among other countries.
LIA
Jakarta

So the government will ban the attacked followers of Ahmadiyah rather than the attackers? Such a decision might be good if the government wants to be noted as the country which makes the most ludicrous policies in the world.
KIKI
Jakarta

You ask SBY to ban Ahmadiyah? I wonder if President Bush is asked to ban a certain religion in the U.S.? Let people worship whatever they want, don't impose your belief on others!
FARAH
Jakarta

We cannot judge that people are infidels. I suggest SBY not be hasty to reach a conclusion.
BINO K. P.
Bandung

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