Prosecutor weak in Ahmadiyah trial: Elsam

NATIONALMon, 06/27/2011 5:19 PM

Prosecutor weak in Ahmadiyah trial: Elsam

The Jakarta Post

A team monitoring the trials of an attack against religious minority group Ahmadiyah said Monday the prosecutor performed below standard.

It said many witnesses’ statements were not well-explored during the trials.

Wahyu Wagiman, a team member from the Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (Elsam), told reporters the prosecutor ignored statements from key witnesses such as Muh. Kamil Safei over the 13 trials.

“Kamil said in a trial that he received a text message from Ujang Muh. Arif, a case defendant, saying that Habib Rizieq, the Islamic Defenders Front [FPI] leader, would be held responsible for the riot,” Wahyu said.

The prosecutor did not question the content of the text message further, Wahyu added.

In February, about 1,500 people attacked Ahmadis in Cikeusik, Banten, killing three.

Eleven defendants are being jointly tried for an assault causing death, inciting violence, maltreating others, participating in assault and illegally possessing sharp weapons.

Prosecutors declined to charge anyone with the murder or manslaughter of the three Ahmadis.

The next trials will be held on June 30 and July 3 at Serang District Court. (rpt)

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Two groups in tension over Ahmadiyah issues

NATIONALSun, 06/19/2011 10:20 AM

Two groups in tension over Ahmadiyah issues

The Jakarta Post

Two youth mass organizations in Makassar almost became implicated in a brawl over Ahmadiyah issues.

The police have issued warnings. The organizations, the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) and the Pancasila Youth, through their leaders signed a peace pact before the police officials.

Tribunnews.com reported that tension originated from a misunderstanding between the groups’ members.

Pancasila Youth regional secretary Andi Azikin said FPI members misinterpreted the situation when they saw Pancasila Youth members by an Ahmadiyah Mosque.

“The FPI members thought we were defending the people at the Ahmadiyah mosque. The truth is we are not involved in Ahmadiyah issues,” Azikin said Sunday.

The FPI was reportedly at the site to prevent people from performing prayers at the mosque.

According to witnesses, FPI members provoked Pancasila Youth activists. Pancasila activists were then forced back to their headquarters where they allegedly planned to respond.

In the last three years, Ahmadiyah people have been subject to much discrimination in the country after the Indonesian Clerics Association (MUI) issued a religious decree stating Ahmadiyah was not part of Islam.

The FPI has been active in suppressing the Amadiyah people.

The administration under President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has not provided proper protection to Ahmadiyah people, or the right to perform prayer.

Many activists perceive this as a sign of the administration’s lack of commitment toward he country’s ideology of pluralism.

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URL: www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/06/19/two...issues.html