Arson attack on Ahmadiyah mosque in South Jakarta

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Tue, 06/02/2009 11:11 AM  |  Jakarta

A mosque belonging to the "deviant" Islamic sect Jamaah Ahmadiyah in Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta, has been damaged in an arson attack. There were no injuries in the incident.

Kebayoran Lama Police chief Comr. Makmur S said that the incident occurred during dawn prayers on Tuesday.

Witnesses told police that eight Ahmadiyah members were performing the dawn prayer on the second floor of the two-story building, when two men sprayed the mosque with gasoline from a jerry can and lit the fire. The fire damaged a rug, a chair and a bicycle.

Makmur said the two men had been seen near the mosque on Monday evening.

“[Ahmadiyah] members were suspicious of the men and called the police for protection. We guarded the mosque until 10 p.m.; who would've known they'd come back at dawn,” he said as quoted by kompas.com.

Makmur said the mosque had often received threats.

The government, through a joint ministerial decree, has banned members of Jamaah Ahmadiyah Indonesia (JAI) from propagating their religious teachings, but they are allowed to maintain their faith and perform their daily religious duties. (dre)
 
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Mirza Imran Ahsan Karim (not verified) — Wed, 06/03/2009 - 6:25am

The nations choose their own path for a progressive future. I urge Indonesian politicians to sit back and re-think their political philosophies. Short term appeasement with religious fanatics will take down the whole nation one day. If the government loose gradual ground to the anarchist behaviour of extremists, they may have to loose everthing in future to them. Indonesian leaders should come out of day to day politics and show the world a vision for next hunderd years. You must promote a society where you could compete with Australia, Japan, China, Malaysia etc, both economically and socially... and for God sake leave the minorities alone in your country. See what is happening in Iraq, Pakistan, Lebanon, Palestine. As an Ahmadiyya community member let me tell our opponents: you cannot make us go down in any way... we are far ahead in discipline, organisation and education from the rest of Muslim people under one leadership... we have experienced it before in and we are we ready for it now... we know our message of love for and hatred for none will prevail, which we have practiced for last 100+ years.

Dave F (not verified) — Tue, 06/02/2009 - 8:04pm

Gosh isn't Islam a wonderful Religion of Peace?

Kunri — Tue, 06/02/2009 - 2:59pm

Unfortunately human rights situation in all so-called Muslim Countries is worst as compared to rest of the modern world. It appears that Muslims have lost their basic teachings of tolerance as practiced by Holy Prophet (saw) and have made Islam religion dominated by fanatics, lunatics and bearded barbarians who feel pride in building minarets of skulls. Please wakeup and restore dignity of Islam by spreading message of Peace in its true sense not by arson and killing. Law enforcing agencies and law makers should also feel their responsibility; stop being selfish and restore/safeguard basic human rights guaranteed by Islam, Constitution and United Nations. You cannot succeed until you respect other’s rights.

David K. — Tue, 06/02/2009 - 12:51pm

I wish this would recieve the same amount of attention by the police as thier prosecution of Mr. Antazari. This is clear intent to damage private property with the intention and desire to kill someone. Although I doubt it considering the police have looked the other way during fanatics attack on this group which is a sanctioned faith (maintenance and performing daily religious duties but no spreading) on numerous attacks.

Perhaps maybe 20 of the 500 police officers assigned to the renenactement of the Nasrudin case could have been provided to protect the religious freedom of this group.

KampungHighlander (not verified) — Tue, 06/02/2009 - 12:22pm

On Monday members of a coalition of hardline Muslim organizations, including the Islamic Defender Front (FPI) and the Muslim Forum (FUI), stage a rally in Jakarta demanding the government ban Ahmadiyah, Tuesday morning a mosque burns.

Coincidence?

When is the Government going to ban the terrorist organizations like the FPI?

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