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FPI breaks up religious discussion in W. Java
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God's soldiers — Islam Defenders Front (FPI) members express their anger during a recent protest. (Tempo/-)
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t least 15 members of the hard-line Islam Defenders Front (FPI) dispersed a religious discussion in Bandung, West Java, on Sunday, as they objected to the presence of an Ahmadiyah follower as one of the speakers at the event.
Risdo Mangunsong of the Interreligious Network said the FPI members broke up the event entitled “Discussions on Miriam in the Bible and Al Quran: An Alternative Bridge in Christian-Islam Dialogues”, as it was about to start on Sunday morning.
“[...] They had objections because one of the speakers in the discussion was an Ahmadiyah follower,” said Risdo, referring to Taufik Khalid Ahmad, one of three speakers scheduled to present at the event, which was to be held in the auditorium of the Karya Pastoral building. The two other speakers were Risdo and Catholic priest Heredi Suhartono.
Risdo said he was earlier contacted by someone identifying himself as Deni who claimed to be a Bandung Police intelligence unit member. According to Risdo, Deni said he was contacted on Saturday by an FPI member who objected to the plan to feature an Ahmadiyah follower at the discussion.
“Shortly before the discussion started on Sunday morning, I was phoned by the intelligence officer [Deni] who asked the discussion’s organizing committee to cancel the event. He said it was the FPI that had asked for the cancellation,” said Risdo.
He added that several FPI members later arrived at the venue. “They shouted, asking anyone they encountered to show [the way to] the discussion room.” The angry group dispersed after the organizer signed a statement, agreeing to cancel the event. (ebf)
