July 29, 2010
Situation in Manis Lor Remains Tense as Ahmadi Hold Firm
The stand-off between locals and followers of the Ahmadiyah sect in Manis Lor village, Kuningan, West Java, is continuing.
On Thursday, 300 Islamic activists from Kuningan, Ciamis and Indramayu districts gathered at the village to protest against the continued existence of the Ahmadiyah community.
Ahmadiyah is seen as a deviant sect by mainstream Muslims. The government has banned the group from holding its rituals in public but has stopped short of banning it altogether.
Metro TV reported that Kuningan district head Aang Suganda arrived at the village to meet with both sides of the dispute.
He urged the parties to discuss their differences peacefully and avoid resorting to violence.
Meanwhile, in front of the An-Nur Mosque, 200 Ahmadiyah followers remained on guard, along with Kuningan Police and local Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) officers.
Many villagers were forced to erect signs in front of their homes. The signs read: “The residents in this house are not Ahmadiyah and please do not damage our house.”
Two previous attempts by local authorities and police to close the mosque have failed after they were met with fierce resistance.
The Setara Institute for Peace and Democracy recorded 33 cases of attacks against Ahmadiyah members last year and well as many other cases of religious discrimination against Christians.
On Thursday, 300 Islamic activists from Kuningan, Ciamis and Indramayu districts gathered at the village to protest against the continued existence of the Ahmadiyah community.
Ahmadiyah is seen as a deviant sect by mainstream Muslims. The government has banned the group from holding its rituals in public but has stopped short of banning it altogether.
Metro TV reported that Kuningan district head Aang Suganda arrived at the village to meet with both sides of the dispute.
He urged the parties to discuss their differences peacefully and avoid resorting to violence.
Meanwhile, in front of the An-Nur Mosque, 200 Ahmadiyah followers remained on guard, along with Kuningan Police and local Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) officers.
Many villagers were forced to erect signs in front of their homes. The signs read: “The residents in this house are not Ahmadiyah and please do not damage our house.”
Two previous attempts by local authorities and police to close the mosque have failed after they were met with fierce resistance.
The Setara Institute for Peace and Democracy recorded 33 cases of attacks against Ahmadiyah members last year and well as many other cases of religious discrimination against Christians.
Copyright 2010 The Jakarta Globe
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