Alfian, Jakarta – Vice President Jusuf Kalla ordered police Thursday to "get tough" on those who attacked the Ahmadiyah sect this week, saying the fatwa (edict) from the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) was not a license to attack others.

"I have spoken to the police and told them to be firm on anyone who is trying to prevent people from expressing their belief," he said. "Anyone who attacked Ahmadiyah was wrong and, therefore, the police have to be tough."

The MUI declared Ahmadiyah "heretical" because the sect does not recognize Muhammad as the last prophet. Ahmadiyah founder Mirza Ghulam Ahmad has claimed to be the next prophet after Muhammad.

But Kalla said the MUI's edict could not be used as a justification for violent actions. He said the MUI had issued a fatwa based on a religious truth, but that the council had not urged people to conduct acts of violence against the sect.

"Anyone who burns down a house is wrong and all seals locking the Ahmadiyah's places of worship have to be removed," Kalla said.

MUI leader Amidhan said the fatwa should be seen as a reminder only for Muslims. "It is a sort of distinguishing to inform people what is right and what is wrong," he said. "It is not a basis for violent action."

Amidhan said violence in the name of religion was forbidden in Islam. "Burning down houses of worship is not allowed, even during wartimes," he said.

Amidhan denied the edict contributed to violent attacks against Ahmadiyah. "MUI issued the same fatwa in 1980, but there were no actions of violence at that time," he said. "The police should arrest all parties involved in the violent attacks against Ahmadiyah, especially those who provoked the attacks."

Since Tuesday's violence, attacks against the Ahmadiyah community have expanded in West Java.

After the worship complex in Manis Lor village, Kuningan regency, was attacked Tuesday, Ahmadiyah became the target of mass violence on Wednesday. A group of some 30 unidentified people ransacked Ahmadiyah's house of worship in Sukajaya village, Sukaraja district, in Tasikmalaya regency.

Although the sect followers Thursday could celebrate the Islamic Day of Sacrifice without threats of violence, national Ahmadiyah leader Abdul Basit said followers were still afraid of further attacks.

"The attack, especially in Manis Lor, was a repeated effort, but the perpetrators were never caught by the police," he told the Post. "The frequent incidents show the police have yet to demonstrate any serious efforts toward handling the problem."

Abdul said he regretted the frequent attacks against the controversial sect were initiated by Muslim groups. "If some people have a problem with our belief, why don't we propose a dialog," Abdul said.

He further said violence did not solve problems but "it will ruin the image of Islam instead. The parties who chose violence show they actually do not have a strong argument."

Sociologist Tamrin Amal Tomagola said the attacks against Ahmadiyah showed the state had not clearly identified or properly dealt with the issues around Ahmadiyah. "The state has no right to define religious truth, but it has the authority to take action against law violators," he said.