News

Ahmadiyah advised to set up such a sect

NU Online  ·  Senin, 21 April 2008 | 02:55 WIB

Brebes, NU Online
The Ahmadiyah followers are advised to set up such a sect aimed at both securing its existence and showing its legal status following the reccomendation of the Coordinating Board for Monitoring Mystical Beliefs in Society (Bakor Pakem) to ban the heretical sect.

The intelligence analyst Dr. Wawan Hari Purwanto made the remark at a seminar held in Dedy Jaya Hotel Brebes Central Java on Sunday (20/4).<>

"While the last prophet in Islam is Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), no prophet after him," he said, adding the Ahmadiyah followers should immediately stop all their "deviant" activities.

The seminar initiated by Brebes Study Center was also attended by Dr. H RM. Pupus Suharis SH, MM from the House and Dr. H. Illia Amin Dip. In.Med, SH, MMOd from Brebes Legislative Assembly.

As reported, thousands of Muslims protested Sunday in Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, calling for the banning of  Ahmadiyah they consider heretical.

A crowd of white-clad woman, children and men chanted, "Disband Ahmadiyah!" at the downtown National Monument. Police estimated about 3,000 people participated in the noisy, but peaceful demonstration.

Ahmadiyah was founded at the end of the 19th century in Pakistan, where it is banned, and conservative Muslims claim it was devised by British colonialists to divide Muslims.

The protest came days after a team of prosecutors, religious scholars and government officials said the sect "had deviated from Islamic principles" and recommended Wednesday that it be outlawed.

Ahmadiyah, as reported by AP, believed to have 200,000 followers in predominantly Muslim Indonesia, has also faced persecution in other Muslim countries. Its followers insist it should be considered part of Islam.

Cholil Ridwan, a cleric, told the crowd at the National Monument that Ahmadiyah recognizes an Indian prophet, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, in addition to Prophet Muhammad. He urged President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to soon disband the group. (was)