The East Lombok Police criminal investigation division released eight Ahmadiyah followers from Bagik Manis village, East Lombok regency, West Nusa Tenggara, on Saturday after detaining them for four days for allegedly praying with non-Ahmadis.

“They told us that there was a report from local people saying that we prayed with non-Ahmadis in my home. Then, local officials from the village administration ordered us to go to the sub-district office with them,” Monginsidi, one of the Ahmadis, told The Jakarta Post in a telephone interview on Sunday.

He added that when they arrived, the head of Sambelia religious affairs office (KUA) told them that Ahmadiyah followed a different syahadat (Islamic creed), which the three Ahmadis denied.

Sambelia sub-district head Buhari said that to avoid any problems, he decided to take the Ahmadis to the Sambelia Police office.