Jakarta – Most factions at the House of Representatives gave their support on Thursday to the controversial decree restricting the activities of Ahmadiyah sect followers.

The Golkar Party, the United Development Party (PPP) and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) underlined their support for the decree, which prohibits sect members from "spreading interpretations and activities that deviate from the principal teachings of Islam".

One Golkar lawmaker, Mesir, urged the government to strength the legal standing of the decree.

"For now, the decree will be very good in helping the public to cool down. But this decree still provides an opportunity for Ahmadiyah followers to continue their activities.

"I urge the government to immediately follow up this decree with a more legally binding regulation," Mesir told a hearing at House Commission VIII overseeing religious affairs.

Religious Affairs Minister Maftuh Basyuni, Home Minister Mardiyanto and Attorney General Hendarman Supandji represented the government at the hearing.

Mesir said the Ahmadiyah belief that its founder Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, not Muhammad, was the last prophet of Islam was intolerable as it defied one of the basic doctrines of Islam.

Lawmaker Al Yusni of the PKS echoed Mesir's argument, suggesting the government issue a more permanent regulation to resolve similar disputes in the future.

"We encourage the government to issue a more permanent and binding regulation so we do not need partial decrees to solve any similar problems in the future," Al Yusni said.

He said the decree needed a detailed explanation about its implementation so as to avoid misinterpretations that could lead to public clashes.

The Prosperous Peace Party (PDS) was the only faction to clearly oppose the decree.

"The Christian community is able to refrain from acting against deviant sects such as the Jehovah's Witnesses, so why can't the government?" said PDS lawmaker Tiurlan Basaria Hutagaol, who is a reverend.

Despite the strong support, the factions questioned the legal status of the decree, which is not recognized in the law on the hierarchy of legislation.

Hendarman said the decree was legitimate. "Although the decree is not included in the legislation hierarchy, it is mandated by the 1965 law on the prevention of blasphemy and abuse of religions," he said.

Hendarman said the Coordinating Board for Monitoring Mystical Beliefs in Society (Bakor Pakem), which recommended the government outlaw Ahmadiyah for its "heretical" teachings, was a legitimate institution because it was mandated by the Attorney General Law.

Hendarman said the decree was a kind of warning for Ahmadiyah followers. "If they violate this decree, they will be prosecuted."

Human rights groups have jumped to the defense of Ahmadiyah, encouraging the group to file a judicial review of the 1965 law with the Constitutional Court and the decree with the Supreme Court.

They will also file a report with the International Court of Justice against the Indonesian government for violating the universal freedom of religion. (alf)