T

he Priangan Barat chapter of Jemaah Ahmadiyah Indonesia (JAI) in West Java say Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali takes sides and cheerleads intolerance after 20 Ahmadi followers have quit JAI.

The Religious Affairs Ministry reported on its official website that Suryadharma witnessed the 20 Ahmadis reciting two syahadat (confession) at a mosque in Singaparna, Tasikmalaya, on May 21.

The recital was led by Tasikmalaya Religious Affairs Ministry office head, Dadang Romansyah. At the event, Suryadharma also reportedly called on other Ahmadis to convert to the 'right' teachings.

'The religious affairs minister explicitly created a negative opinion of JAI to the public. He fans the flames of intolerance,' Ekky Mubariq of the Priangan Barat chapter said, adding that people had a right to follow their religious beliefs.

The ministry recorded that as many as 712 Ahmadis converted to Sunni Islam between 2007 and 2013.

Some mainstream Muslims in Indonesia feel the Ahmadiyah are a heretical sect for its belief that founder Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was a prophet.

In 2008, the government issued a joint ministerial decree banning Ahmadi followers from publicly celebrating their faith.

Members of the Ahmadiyah community in West Java suffered further after the West Java administration issued a provincial regulation banning Ahmadiyah activities across the province in 2011.

On May 17, the West Java Regional Leadership Forum decided to provide religious counseling to JAI members.

The consensus came in a meeting attended by West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan, West Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Tubagus Anis Angkawijaya, Siliwangi Military Command chief Maj. Gen. Sonny Wijaya and West Java Prosecutor's Office head Soemarno in Bandung.

Heryawan said the administration would provide counseling to JAI followers and prevent violence against them.

The counseling idea is disparaged by Bandung Legal Aid Institute (LBH) director Arip Yogiawan.

'If this religious guidance is aimed at belittling their teachings, it doesn't seem like a good idea. Faith is the right of each individual. The government and security personnel should carry out their duty to maintain security,' Arip said.

Religious counseling could imply that the JAI should refrain from spreading its teachings, while on the other hand, the government does not provide 'counseling' to mass organizations attack JAI members.

In terms of preventing public disorder and violence towards Ahmadiyah followers, both the LBH and Ahmadis welcome the idea.

Ahmadis often received physical and psychological threats from radical Islamic groups and violence has increased since the 2008 decree.

West Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Tubagus Anis Angkawijaya has agreed to set up police patrol posts across West Java in accordance with JAI numbers. Every police patrol post will be manned by at least six officers.

'They are aimed at preventing incidents, such as in Tasikmalaya,' said Anis, referring to the vandalism on a number of JAI assets in Tasikmalaya in early May.