Sect ban will ‘escalate violence’

Abdul Khalik ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Wed, 04/30/2008 4:05 AM  |  Headlines

A coalition of civil society groups is warning President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono against banning Ahmadiyah, saying the move would escalate attacks on the Islamic sect.

At a joint news conference here Tuesday, the Wahid Institute, the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH), the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) and the Setara Institute demanded the President not issue a joint ministerial decree outlawing the sect.

“More Ahmadiyah members will become the target of attacks by radical groups. If right now the government can’t protect them from attacks, then violence will be much severe after the ban,” Wahid Institute executive director Ahmad Suaedy said.

He warned the President that a formal ban on Ahmadiyah would be a serious violation of the Constitution, which could lead to his impeachment.

“The ban would violate Article 28(1) of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religious beliefs,” Suaedy said.

Setara Institute chairman Hendardi, who is also a human rights lawyer, threatened to bring the issue to the United Nations if the government went ahead with the ban.

“The government should stop meddling in citizens’ private matters. Why don’t Yu-dhoyono and his ministers take care of many other crucial issues, such as food price increases and poverty.

“Banning Ahmadiyah will make our country a pariah state and equate us with violence,” he said.

On Monday, a group calling itself the Jamaah Al Mubalighin Communication Forum set fire to a mosque belonging to Ahmadiyah in Parakan Salak village in Sukabumi, West Java.

Several days earlier, a radical group attacked Ahmadiyah mosques in Singaparna, Garut, and in Bogor, West Java.

The latest attacks came after the Coordinating Board for Monitoring Mystical Beliefs in Society (Bakor Pakem) declared Ahmadiyah “heretical” early this month and recommended the government outlaw it.

The government’s board ruled the sect failed to honor its 12-point declaration regarding faith and social values consistent to Islamic values after being given three months to prove its commitment.

The interdepartmental board said it found Ahmadiyah had continued to follow activities that deviated from mainstream Islamic teachings.

Chief security minister Widodo Adi Sucipto said last week the government would issue a joint decree based on the board’s recommendation.

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Reader (not verified) — Tue, 06/10/2008 - 11:04am

I propose to our friend Insan el-Kameel (a previous commentator from Malaysia) to focus on Malaysia's issues. Even if there are discussions with regard to freedom of religion in our country I still prefer the recent state of democracy here in Indonesia compared to the current status of Malaysia. At least here minority demonstrations are not beaten up by the police anymore!

Nafees Hamid (not verified) — Sun, 05/04/2008 - 4:12am

The Ahmadiyya Community is a very peace loving sect that has branches in over 190 countries. their motto is 'love for all, hatred for None'. Members have never been involved in any violence.

I would urge the Govt. and the President to keep Indonesia a country that allows freedom of religion. They should not come between man and Allah. If the beliefs do not cause any harm to anyone, why ban them?

We all know that they are very good, honest practicing Muslims.

Governments and countries who acted unjustly against this community in the past have had to pay a heavy price for their decisions.

Insan el-Kameel — Wed, 04/30/2008 - 7:36pm

What the government of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono have to do is to urge the Ahmadiyah group to immediately declare to be a new religion and stop claiming to be a sect within Islam. It has been proven that Ahmadiyah heretical, and thus tarnishing the pure teaching of Islam.

The government must act immediately to save the group and prevent further violent reaction from certain Muslim groups against the ignorant or stubborn attitude of the group by persuading the group to stop claiming to be Muslims if they continue to adopt and practice the principles that are in violation and contradiction to the real principles and values of Islam.

I don't recommend the government take punitive action against Ahmadiyah for not just deviating from mainstream Islamic teachings but also for tarnishing and damaging Islamic teachings and values. THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD FORMALLY BAN THE GROUP AND THE GOVENMENT'S BAN WAS NOT IN VIOLATION (let alon serious violation as mentioned in the Post) OF THE CONSTITUTIONS. THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT VIOLATE THE CONSTITUTION'S article on freedom of religious beliefs whatsoever. Because what the group has done so far toward Islam IS NOT A FORM OF FREEDOM OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS, BUT A TOTAL/ABSOLUTE FREEDOM OF TARNISHING/DAMAGING/TAINTING/ UNDERMINING A RELIGION -- ISLAM.

Belief me, there will be no impeachment against President SBY!

So, Please Mr President, If you want to save this nation from destruction and disintegration, Plase Ban the Ahmadiyah congregation now, once and for all! Impose the regulation strictly! Punish the attackers, who just reactted against a contemptuos action by the Ahmadiyah group, and also punish the group if it continues to be stubborn and ignorant. If you do it sincerely for the sake of the true religion, ALLAH SWT will protect you and no one could topple you.

Thank you for posting my comment.

Insan el-Kameel
Sandakan, Malaysia

Stevo (not verified) — Wed, 04/30/2008 - 2:10pm

Thank goodness Indonesia at least has a constitution as some kind of a guideline aand tempering standard against partisan, one-eyed, radical and anti-humanitarian policy. We looking in from the outside can only hope it is adherred to. It is unimaginable in the free world that government or peoples representitives would ever tell another what to think and how to pray!!!
I hope the press has the moral fortitude to continue to expose such bigotry in the modern world...or does the majority of Indonesians want their own form of an inquisition?

Philip Setunga (not verified) — Wed, 04/30/2008 - 12:03pm

How can the national police and the attorney general, who happen to be the members of the committee recommend a banning of a sect? Can the police and the attorney general go agianst the constitution of the country which guarantees religious freedom to all.

Nyoman (not verified) — Wed, 04/30/2008 - 8:19am

It is absurd that the government is not able or willing to anticipate and prevent violence against fellow citizens who interpret and practice a religion a bit differently. It is intolerable that violence in the name of "the" religion is tolerated. Groups claiming to adhere to the "true" religion are nothing less than gangs of organized criminals destroying other people's property, wounding fellow citizens and even inciting to murder that ought to be outlawed and prosecuted. "Lord Government, keep your fingers out of religion and belief, it's none of your constitutional business!"

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