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strong>Oct. 26, Online

Dozens of Ahmadiyah followers in Bandung, West Java, were barred from performing Idul Adha prayers and slaughtering animals during the Islamic day of sacrifice on Friday.

Members of the vigilante group Islam Defenders Front (FPI) raided the Ahmadi An-Nasir mosque on Thursday night, damaging the mosque and prohibiting the Ahmadis from celebrating Idul Adha.

There were about 10 Ahmadis preparing for Idul Adha inside the mosque, including several women, when the raid took place, tempo.co reported.

Your comments:

Punish FPI offenders. Ban the FPI and other radical organizations. Stop labeling which faith is right, which is wrong. Let the people choose themselves.

Guarantee safety and peace for all citizens, regardless of their faith.

Promote tolerance and discourage violence in the community.

Once again the government failed to protect citizens from the violent acts of radicals.

I say the government needs to stop judging which faith is right and start protecting citizens regardless of their faith and start building a tolerant and harmonious condition.

Regardless of their faith, means whatever they believe in. Even the devil itself, as long as they don’t harm others.

Rio Rivai

Ahmadis have no right to celebrate Idul Adha because they are not Muslim. They should register their religion formally.

Zaki Hammaad

Like many of you, I am saddened by this trend toward intolerance. I had hoped that reformation would put us on the road toward a modern Indonesia.

Instead, it has become a free-for-all arena for the entertainment of political powerhouses.

Wishnu Prasetya

It’s a shame that such discrimination is enforced in the name of Islam.

Ahmad

And such is the state of our beloved yet oh-so egocentrically religious morality police.

They went culture police on Gaga, now this. I’ll not be surprised if they go fashion police on us.

On a more related note, what happened to the freedom of choosing whatever faith you want believe in?

Yossa Lukman

Indonesia is running into a civil war. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will then regret that he did not take the necessary action and maybe even he will be brought to court for not protecting the people.

I always miss the voice of the leaders of the minority groups condemning the actions of the central or local governments.

Let them tell SBY that they will not be blamed when their followers take the law in their own hands the same as the FPI etc. do.

APH Mulders

It would have been the duty of the police to ensure that the Ahmadiyah mosque remained open and that the members of the Ahmadi faith could celebrate peacefully the festival of Idul Adha. I am very worried about Indonesia.

The way it is going, extremists attacking the Ahmadi Muslims and the government responding in a very lukewarm and irresponsible manner, I am afraid Indonesia (which otherwise would have a bright future) will loose Allah’s blessings.

If you want to look at a country that has lost Allah’s blessings look at Pakistan. Is that where you would like Indonesia to be heading? May Allah save you all.

Neni Nuraeni

If you are a Muslim, then be a good Muslim. Recognition of Muhammad as the last messenger is a must. Don’t replace him by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. If so, make your own religion and don’t call it Islam. Well done to the FPI.

Jaya

Indonesia celebrated the Youth Pledge Day on Oct 28. It’s been 84 years since this remarkable pledge, which has been lauded as one of the pillars to the country’s independence.

Unfortunately, after 84 years, current leaders see no more need for unity.

Allowing such blatant acts of intolerance undermines the very sacrifice made during the war for independence. Even with sentiments aside, this is an act of violence which should be subjected to the criminal laws.

But then I suppose the idealism of the founding fathers has not succeeded for the laws are partial to Muslims.

Why isn’t the central government doing something? So much for that anti-blasphemy speech SBY made at the UN.

Christine Pan

FPI and Ahmadiyah, both of them make many problems in our country. It would be better if the government banned Ahmadiyah, so the FPI could be banned too.

Alpha

The police follow the Soeharto-era tactics: Prosecute the low-level guy, safeguard the organizers.

Good for maintaining power and cleaning one’s own dirty hands. Divide and rule.

Why only arrest a low-level actor instead of the FBI leadership that encouraged and directed their
followers to act?

Nirvana