Indonesian officials warn sect members to return to mainstream

The Associated Press ,  Jakarta   |  Mon, 06/09/2008 5:20 PM  |  National

Indonesian government officials have issued a decree ordering members of a Muslim sect to return to mainstream Islam or face possible imprisonment.

The document "warns and orders all Ahmadiyah followers to stop their activities" or face up to five years in prison.

The document was signed Monday by two Cabinet ministers and the attorney general.

Indonesia's constitution guarantees freedom of religion, but many people in the predominantly Muslim nation consider Ahmadiyah's failure to recognize Muhammad as the only prophet offensive.

The decree falls short of an outright ban being called for by fundamentalists. (*)

Comments (30)  |   Post comment
A  |   A  |   A  |   Mail to a friend  |  Printer Friendly Version |  Digg it!  |  Add to Del.icio.us!  |  Add to Reddit!  |  Stumble it!   |  Share on facebook  

Ning (not verified) — Wed, 06/11/2008 - 7:38am

@Syed sulaiman adnan
the closest case in foreign media that I read that make Indonesia as 'laughing stock' come from the editorial of Brunei Times June 3, before the dcree is issued. Indonesia become a laughing stock in front of muslim countries!

quoted
"For Muslims around the world, having somebody claiming to be Muslims tell them that there is another prophet after Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, is an insult. An abomination."
unquoted

http://www.bt.com.bn/en/editorial/2008/06/03/no_confusion_needed_here

If the govt will allow the ahmadi to exist in Indonesia, that sect should be declared a new religion separated from Islam.

Syed sulaiman adnan (not verified) — Tue, 06/10/2008 - 12:07pm

Let's congratulate the people and goverment of Indonesia for
unltimately, indeed, they chose to BECOME LAUGHING STOCK IN THE
EYE OF THE WORLD.

Ayuna (not verified) — Tue, 06/10/2008 - 11:37am

why does ahmadyah need to be banned? is it harming the other people by their believes, is it killing people and making the members anarchists? everyone with commonsense will only see them as victims of unjustice situation!! why aren't organizations who harm other people banned, instead?? I am missing the stability during Suharto era...hoping for a stronger goverment who can lead people, so that they know that they have not only freedom, but also responsibility!! I am somewhat believe that majority of moslems in Indonesia still think that banning of ahmadyah is unfair!!

Abu bakrie (not verified) — Tue, 06/10/2008 - 11:29am

Now it is clear to me why Indonesian moslems cannot cope well when they have to live abroad. Being a majority in their own country made them spoiled and stupid, and when it is time to become a minority in other places of the world..they just cannot survive.

Ning (not verified) — Tue, 06/10/2008 - 10:06am

Good one.
The ahmadis do not have the right to force muslims to accept them as muslims too. They have their own religion, they follow their own prophet, and they hijack and abuse the verses of the Qur'an in the process.

they even consider muslims who do not accept Mirza Ghulam Ahmad as infidels. And they want us to considers them as muslims? No way.
If they insist with their belief, they should be treated as another religion separated from Islam, just like Christian, Catholic, Hindu and Buddhism.

Just like in Pakistan, where Ahmadiyah sect is considered as 'non-muslim minority', I hope that that will be the case here in Indonesia as well.

Joe Stillwell (not verified) — Tue, 06/10/2008 - 1:13am

So.....should they become Sunni or Shia?

JD (not verified) — Mon, 06/09/2008 - 11:18pm

Shameful and disgusting.

Now the Indonesian government is nothing but a clerk of the Islamist to rubber-stamp whatever they want theologically. This episode just involves Ahmadiyah, but if we do not speak out against this blatant and shameful persecution, sooner or later it is our episode that comes.

Procrastinator — Mon, 06/09/2008 - 9:33pm

@Abdul, you don't get it do you? There are no problems with Christians, Buddhists, Hindus or whatever religions. Provided they don't mess with Muslims such as trying to convert Muslims with a pack of instant noodles. But with Ahmadiyah, they are tainting Islamic teaching so this is actually a "domestic affair" of Muslims and we are not waging wars against those of other faiths.

However, I regretted the actions taken by FPI as it against the teachings Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. We can only attack after being attacked.

@Glorfindel, that's also why Christians departed from core Judaism teachings (thanks to Saul aka Paul, cmiiw) because they follow Jesus' teachings instead of the Mosaic teachings although Christians follow both Old Testament (Taurat give to Moses) as well as proper New Testament aka Bible which contains Jesus' teachings.

As with Ahmadiyah, we Muslims have given them an option to form a new religion, parting from Muslims without taking the name Islam. It will be just like the Judeo-Christian teachings. Maybe in the near future we can talk of Islamo-Ahmadi teachings. Let's just hope that Ahmadis won't persecute Muslims, just like Christians persecute(d) Jews

So Glorfindel, we Muslims don't call ourselves Christians alhtough we highly revere Isa Almasih a.s. and his mother Siti Maryam (Mary).

Abdul (not verified) — Mon, 06/09/2008 - 7:53pm

Brave move government ! Bowing your knees for fundamentalists . Whose next ? The Christians, the Buddhists, the Hindus ? But remember, people can be thrown in prison, people can be banned from public area’s, even can be beheaded but believe and faith can never be banned out of the hearts.
Oppression either will lead to growth of a religion.

Glorfindel (not verified) — Mon, 06/09/2008 - 7:01pm

If Muslims find it offensive that Ahmadiyah recognizes another prophet after Muhammad, then should not Christians also find it offensive that Muslims recognize Muhammad as a prophet after Jesus?

After all, Jesus said very clearly "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes unto the Father but by me." That doesn't leave room for another prophet, does it?

« first‹ previous123

What's On

more
more