T

he police have named a representative of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) Bandung Raya, M. Asep Abdurahman alias Utep, a suspect in the attack on the mosque belonging to Ahmadiyah followers in Bandung on Thursday evening.

“We detained the suspect last night,” Bandung Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Widjonarko said on Sunday.

The suspect, Widjonarko continued, would probably face multiple charges in connection with his involvement in the attack, such as under Article 170 of the Criminal Code on violent acts in public, Article 406 on destruction and damage of properties and Article 335 on unpleasant acts.

Over the last several years, demands to ban Ahmadiyah have increased in a number of regions across the country. The sect is dubbed heretical because it does not follow mainstream Islamic teaching.

Ahmadis believe Mirza Ghulam Ahmad is their prophet, but this is considered heretical by mainstream Islam, which recognizes Muhammad as the final prophet while considering Mirza a preacher.

Before naming Utep a suspect, the police had questioned at least six witnesses, including Utep. Based on the results of the questioning and evidence collected, Widjonarko said that the police had adequate evidence to name him a suspect. “He led [the attack],” he said.

The police are currently developing the case. “It’s possible that there will be more suspects,” he said.

As earlier reported, a group from FPI Bandung Raya visited An-Nasir mosque on Thursday evening. Utep, who led the group, was angry to see Ahmadis planning to undertake prayers for Idul Adha — the Islamic Day of Sacrifice — and to slaughter animals as a sacrifice.

The FPI members later demanded that the An-Nasir mosque congregation not carry out religious activities at the mosque, including Idul Adha activities. The demand was disclosed at a police office not far from the mosque.

Utep based the demand on the West Java Governor Regulation No. 12/2011, issued in March 2011, on the banning of Ahmadiyah activities in West Java.

As the demand was not met, Utep left a dialogue forum with Ahmadiyah representatives at the police office to go to the mosque. There damaged windows in the guest room of the mosque. The gate of the mosque was also damaged.

The attack disrupted Ahmadi preparations for Idul Adha. At the time of the attack there were 10 Ahmadis in the mosque, including five women. They did not put up any resistance.

An-Nasir mosque preacher Abdul Wahid Yora said he was asked to make a written statement saying that he would not hold the Idul Adha prayer and slaughter animals for sacrifice on Friday.

“They forced me to, but I resisted. It’s a matter of religious ritual, why should it be banned?” asked Yora, who left the police post at 9 a.m. on Friday.

However, upon realizing that parts of the mosque were damaged, Yora decided against going ahead with the planned Idul Adha activities.