Home Worldwide Indonesia December, 2007 MUI: violence …

Bandung, West Java (ANTARA News) — Police Friday threatened to take stern measures against people committing more acts of violence against followers of the Ahmadiyah sect at Manislor village in Kuningan district, West Java, who were attacked by resenting locals last Tuesday.

“If they commit another act of anarchy that causes injury to other people and damage to buildings, we will not hesitate to take stern measures against them as part of efforts to uphold the rule of law,” West Java Provincial Police Chief Insp Gen Sunarko Danu Ardanto said.

He said the police had been restoring peace and order at the scene and investigating a number of people suspected of attacking an Ahmadiyah worship center at the village.

The police also had fielded plain-clothes officers to the area to anticipate another attack on the worship center.

“So, if people again attack it, we will not hesitate to take stern measures against them. Police officers know what to do in the field,” he said.

A crowd attacked the Ahmadiyah worship center on Tuesday, leaving four people injured. A small mosque and dozens of houses owned by Ahmadiyah members were also damaged in the attack.

Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) Chairman KH Cholil Ridwan said on Wednesday the council did not justify acts of violence against followers of the Ahmadiyah sect.

“Islam does not teach (its adherents) violence,” he said.

To prevent a recurrence of Tuesday’s attack, the government should disband Ahmadiyah, Cholil said.

“The attack occurred apparently because the government had not acted quickly,” he said.

The anarchic act was inevitable as the Ahmadiyah members persisted in considering themselves Muslims although Ahmadiyah had been declared a deviate sect, he said.

“If they (Ahmadiyah members) no longer recognize Mirza Gulam Ahmad as a prophet or ‘mujadid’ and they abandon their misleading beliefs and awkward characteristics, we can accept them,” he said.

“If Ahmadiyah followers continue to defend their teachings, they had better leave Islam. Be a separate religion that has nothing to do with Islam such as Confucianism so Muslims will not feel offended,” he said. (*)

Copyright © 2007 ANTARA Source: www.antara.co.id/en/arc/2007/12/22/police-to-take-stern-measures-againts-ahmadiyah-attackers/