South Sumatra Muslim organizations shun reverse of Ahmadiyah ban

Palembang, NU Online
A number of Muslim organizations in South Sumatra said they are willing to uphold a governor’s decree that bans the Ahmadiyah sect at all cost, according to reports by Tempo Interaktif.

“This decree is beneficial for Muslims in preserving and saving the tenets of faith from the insults of the Indonesian Jemaah Ahmadiyah (JAI) disdaining the purity of the Islamic faith,” Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) for South Sumatra chairman Sodikun told a media briefing on Saturday.<>

He said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono should not annul or cancel the decree, which was introduced by acting Governor Mahyuddin last Monday, as it would hurt the trust of the local community.

Sodikun is also calling for the president to issue a decree that would officially ban and dissolve the Ahmadiyah sect as a whole for propagating false understandings of Islam.

“We also advise the ulema (religious scholars) and habaib (descendents of Prophet Muhammad) across Indonesia to pressure their governors and regents to issue similar decrees if the president fails to issue a decree banning Ahmadiyah,” he said.

Apart from the MUI South Sumatra chapter, several organizations have voiced similar concerns, namely the Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia, Islam Defenders Front and the Indonesian Mujahidin Council.

There are at least 600 Ahmadiyah followers in the province, including 200 members in Palembang, with nine mosques in cities and regencies including Palembang, Burnai Burlian, Pematang Panggung, Sungai Bungi, Lahat, Lubuk Linggau, Ogan Komering Ilir and Banyuasin.

Most of the Ahmadiyah followers in South Sumatra are of Javanese ethnic descent, and had originally been relocated to these areas through the government-sanctioned transmigration program.

MUI said the Ahmadiyah teachings, that Ghulam Ahmad is a prophet of Islam, defy one of the basic doctrines of the religion -- that Muhammad is the last prophet of Islam.

On June 9, the Religious Affairs Ministry, the Home Ministry and the Attorney General's Office issued a decree banning Ahmadiyah members from spreading their beliefs.

The decree came the same day as thousands of hard-liners gathered in front of the State Palace in Jakarta to demand the dissolution of Ahmadiyah. (jp/dar)