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rosecutors at the Bandung District Court on Thursday sought a five-and-a-half years jail sentence for Islam Defenders Front (FPI) member, Asep “Utep” Abdurahman, for allegedly damaging the Ahmadiyah An-Nasir mosque in Bandung, West Java, on the eve of Idul Fitri (the Islamic Day of Sacrifice).

Prosecutor Agus Mujoko said that Utep was charged under Article 170 of the Criminal Code on assault, as well as Article 335 on offensive behavior. Dozens of FPI members attended the trial, presided over by judge Sinung Hermawan.

On October 25, members of the FPI allegedly raided An-Nasir mosque, damaging the place of worship and preventing Ahmadis from celebrating Idul Adha.

The FPI members took three Ahmadis to the Astana Anyar Police precinct and tried to force them to sign an agreement not to hold Idul Adha prayers or slaughter sacrificial animals on the next day.

The Ahmadis’ rejection of the agreement reportedly enraged Utep and led him to break the mosque’s windows.

Utep himself denied the allegations, saying that he did not smash the windows but he admitted to kicking the gate.

Utep’s lawyer, Firman Turmantara, said Utep and some FPI members came to the mosque in accordance with the implementation of the 2011 Governor Regulation No. 12 on the banning of Ahmadiyah activities in West Java.

 “The activities [performed by the Ahmadis ahead of Idul Adha] are strictly against the regulation,” said Firman.