Yuli Tri Suwarni – West Java officials are bearing down on the Ahmadiyah Islamic sect to open their mosques to the public on Thursday, while in Tasikmalaya, six Ahmadis reportedly left the faith to revert to "true" Islam.
"We want the gubernatorial decree to be obeyed willingly," Governor Ahmad Heryawan said in Bandung on Thursday.
West Java is one of the increasing number of provinces that has issued a ban on Ahmadiyah, which hardliners say deviated from orthodox Islam. "It is important that the conversion of Ahmadis to true Islam works," Ahmad said.
He called on Ahmadis to assimilate into other Muslim groups by opening their mosques to others, especially for Friday prayers. The governor defended his latest call by saying it was stipulated in a gubernatorial regulation banning Ahmadiyah.
The regulation, which was issued on March 2, bans Ahmadiyah from spreading their faith. It also warns people against resorting to acts of violence against Ahmadis as well as facilitates the government to convert Ahmadis.
Ahmad said the gubernatorial regulation was aimed at protecting Ahmadis so they would not face the wrath of Muslim hardliners. "We want them to revert to orthodox Islam," he said.
The West Java Religious Affairs Agency announced a Gerakan Sajadah (prayer mat campaign), during which Muslims would be encouraged to hold Friday prayers at Ahmadiyah mosques. "We have preachers appointed by local clerics for tomorrow's [Friday] prayer," agency head Jabar Saerodji said.
The campaign, he said, would be conducted out in several regencies in the province with large Ahmadiyah populations: Tasikmalaya, Kuningan, Cianjur, Garut and Bogor. Ahmadiyah spokesman Rafiq Ahmad Sumadi Gandakusuma said Ahmadis would reject a non-Ahmadi preacher and appealed to the governor, Religious Affairs Agency and Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) to respect their religious rights.
He said Ahmadiyah had its own preachers and would welcome anyone to join Friday prayers at their mosques. "We should respect each other because there is no compulsion in practicing religious teachings," Rafiq said.
In Tasikmalaya, six Ahmadis reportedly repented and reverted to orthodox Islam. Udin, Rohidin, Empu, Asih, Ade Nengsih, and Tuti acknowledged Muhammad as the last prophet – one of the five pillars of Islam – at Tanjungmulang village, Tawang district, under the guidance of local clerics.
"I was not forced to convert. I just want to repent and return to the path of true Islam," Udin said.
The escalating persection of Ahmadiyah hit headlines recently following the brutal murder of three Ahmadis in Cikeusik, Banten, following an attack on the minority sect.
Some provinces and regencies have moved to ban Ahmadiyah from practicing their faith publicly, officially because of fears of inciting violence by hard-line Muslims.