Tarko Sudiarno, Yogyakarta – Some 1,000 members of Al Qiyadah Al Islamiyah, "a deviant and blasphemous sect", said the Indonesian Ulemas Council(MUI), renounced their faith Friday in a ceremony held at Babussalam Mosque in the compound of Yogyakarta Police headquarters.

Head of Yogyakarta's sect, Budi Thamtono (alias Achmad Mushadieq Tsany), led members in their pledge to return to the true teachings of Islam. All the members recited the syahadat twice – a creed acknowledging Allah as the one true God and Muhammad as Allah's prophet.

Budi and 24 representatives of the sect signed a letter declaring their renouncement was voluntary and that they were ready to return to Islam.

Yogyakarta Police chief Brig. Gen. Harry Anwar, MUI's representative KH Munwir Abdul Fatah and representatives from various Muslim organizations witnessed the ceremony.