Indonesian Religious Leaders Condemn Attack on Ahmadiyah Followers

Text of report in English by Indonesian news agency Antara web site

Jakarta: A number of Islamic organization and inter-faith relations figures grouped in the Community Alliance for Religious Freedom here on Saturday condemned Friday’s (15 July) attack on members of the Islamic Ahmadiyah sect in Bogor, West Java, saying the incident was against religious freedom.

Speaking at a press conference at the headquarters of the Muhamadiyah Islamic organization, they called for legal action against tho perpetrators of the attack.

Among the religious organization leaders attending the conference were Siti Musdah Mulia of the International Conference on Religion and Peace (ICRP), Ahmad Suaidy of the Wahid Institute, Weinata Sairin of the Indonesian Communion of Churches, Dawam Rahardjo of the Institute of Religious and Philosphical Studies, Father Benny of the Indonesian Bishops’ Conference, Usman Hamid of the Commission on Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), Sukidi of the Muhammadiyah Centre for the Study of Religious and Civilizations, Siti Nazmi Amal of the Nasyiatul Aisyiah organization, Ulil Abshar Abdalla of the Liberal Islam Network and Ahmad Rais of the Muhammadiyah youth association.

Sukidi said the incident was proof of the government’s failure in protecting citizens’ religious freedom.

“Security personnel even protected the attackers. This was an indication of the uncivility of the state,” he said.

Dawam feared the incident would inspire others to do the same. He also criticized the Indonesian Council of Ulemas who had produced a statement condemning the Ahmadiyah teaching as misleading. “Organizations like Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama have never issued any statement about Ahmadiyah while they are also Muslim,” he said.

Siti Musdah said the Friday’s incident proved the failure of Muslims in showing that Islam upheld pluralism.

Usman Hamid said the incident could not be legitimized because it was against human rights.

Rev Benny meanwhile said that the incident was a sign of destruction of public civility and the result of impunity the state had imposed on cases of violence so far. “Differences are not something that must be wiped out,” he said.

Sairin said he feared the destruction would be a bad precedent. “This is not only a religious problem but it is also about developing nation-and statehood,” he said.

Ulil meanwhile had asked the government to bring Habib Abdurrahman Assegaf he considered the provocateur of the incident to justice.

Suaidy also asked for an investigation into the motive of the attack because it also involved local government officials.

Asep Saufan from the Association of Muhammadiyah youths said he feared more inter-religious anarchies would flare up unless the case was not handled well.

In view of the conditions the Alliance planned to call on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and National Police Chief General Sutanto soon to seek a clarification on the case.

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