The Jakarta Post, October 31, 2006
Punish Ahmadiyah attackers: Watchdog
JAKARTA: The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) demanded Monday that the
government take legal action against perpetrators recent attacks on followers of the
Ahmadiyah sect.
Taufik Basari, YLBHI's legal advocacy director, said the government needed to act
soon or the oppression of minority groups would worsen.
"Just like any other citizens, Ahmadiyah followers have the right to state protection,"
Taufik said in a statement made available to The Jakarta Post.
The latest incident occurred on Oct. 25 in Kuningan, West Java, when a mob
attacked mosques and homes belonging to Ahmadiyah members. Similar incidents
have occurred in Bogor and Lombok.
The attacks began after the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) declared Ahmadiyah
heretical because the sect does not recognize Muhammad as the last prophet. But
MUI leaders have denied allegations that they have condoned the use of violence
against Ahmadiyah followers, of which there are around 200,000. -- JP
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