West Sumatra outlaws Ahmadiyah

The West Sumatra Governor issued a decree on Thursday effectively banning the sect in the province.

The decree, similar to those issued in West Java, East Java and Banten provinces, banned all Ahmadiyah activities in the province.

“All Ahmadiyah activities in West Sumatra are forbidden from the date this decree is issued. We hope that all municipalities and regencies are informed of this decree,” West Sumatra Governor Irwan Prayitno said on Friday.

The decree, which according to Irwan was based on the 2008 joint ministerial decree that restricted Ahmadiyah activites throughout Indonesia, would forbid Ahmadis from propagating their beliefs or putting up signs promoting the organization or its beliefs.

“Thus with this gubernatorial decree, the West Sumatra administration has forbidden and stopped all Ahmadiyah activities,” Irwan said as quoted by tribunnews.com.

The decree was issued after a meeting with the West Sumatra regional administration body (Muspida), the West Sumatra Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), the West Sumatra Cult Surveillance Coordinating Agency (Bakorpakem), Minangkabau Land Traditions Organization (LKAAM) and several other civil organizations last Friday, Irwan said.