NU of Australia: Govt should OK if Ahmadiyah is new religion

Canberra, NU Online
The idea to make Ahmadiyah as a new religion and out of the pale of Islam as demanded by many is likely difficult to meet. Yet if the idea would come true, as consequence, the government should acknowledge Ahmadiyah as an official religion in Indonesia.

Rais Syuriyah (chairman of advisory council) of the Nahdlatul Ulama Special Branch Board (PCINU) Australia-New Zeland Dr Nadirsyah Hosen made the remark as speaking at a discussion entitled "Our Mosque is Burned Down: Constitution, Faith, nad One Hundred Years of National Awakening." at Australian National University (ANU), Canberra on Friday (23/5).<>

Nadirsyah who is also lecturer at the Faculty of Law University of Wolongong, Australia, said other consequence if the Ahmadiyah would become new religion was that the government should give it such 'place' at at the Department  Religious Affairs.

"The case like Ahmadiyah, in which a group regarded as deviant has not only happened in Islam, but also in other religions. If this would happen to Ahmadiyah, the government would deal with the similar case as other religions," Nadirsyah said as reported by NU Online's Alimi in Canberra.

The similar statement was also said by Ismatu Rafi, a doctoral student on Asian Studies, ANU. Rafi was of view that throughout the history of Islam there had been many deviant accusations against Islamic groups like Mu'tazilah, Khawarij and so on. However there was no such suggestion or feedback for them to establish new religions.
 
"That's why though it is the duty of Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) to issue verdict (fatwa), indeed, it is really inappropriate to issue fatwa on Ahmadiyah deviation," Rafi said.

While deputy chairman of the PCINU Yasir Alimi said if Ahmadiyah was admitted as new religion by the government, the total of Indonesia's Muslims would change from 80 percent to 40.

"Indonesia would no longer be considered as the largest Muslim population in the world," he said.

Helen Musa, a member of Ahmadiyah who was also present at the forum denied the accusation voiced by some circles. According to Musa, the members of Ahmadiyah were also Muslims acknowledging that there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His messenger.

Facts about Ahmadiyah

* An Islamic sect founded in Qadian, Punjab, India, in 1889 by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1839-1908), who claimed to be the mahdi -- a figure expected by some Muslims to appear at the end of the world.

* The group is guided by a Khalifa (Caliph), its spiritual leader, who claims to commune with the Almighty and be the successor to Mirza Ghulam Ahmad.

* Ahmadiyah entered Indonesia in 1925.

* There are two groups of Ahmadiyah in Indonesia -- Jamaah Ahmadiyah Indonesia (JAI), also known as Ahmadiyah Qodiyani, and Indonesian Ahmadiyah Movement (GAI), also called Ahmadiyah Lahore.

* JAI believes Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was the last prophet after Muhammad, while GAI only considers Mirza to be a reformer.

* The Indonesian Ulema Council declared both JAI and GAI heretical sects.

* Attacks on Ahmadiyah increased following the council's fatwa. (rif)