Makassar – The South Sulawesi administration says it forbids members of the Ahmadiyah Muslim community to conduct religious activities during the upcoming Idul Fitri holiday.

South Sulawesi Governor Syahrul Yasin Limpo said he was concerned that Ahmadiyah members would conduct activities over the holiday, which could spark violence. "We don't want a repeat of previous conflicts, we will guard the Ahmadiyah mosque," Syahrul said Friday as quoted by tempointeraktif.com.

Syahrul refused to say whether Ahmadis were allowed to pray in their own mosques. "I cannot answer that. But their religious activities are certainly forbidden."

South Sulawesi Police head Insp. Gen. Johny Wainal Usman said Ahmadiyah activities were not allowed during Idul Fitri.

South Sulawesi Ahmadiyah spokesman M. Mahtiar Ahmad said he was disappointed by the governor's decision. He said that the government should protect Ahmadiyah communities because they were peaceful and did not threaten Indonesia's sovereignty.

"Insya Allah [God willing] we can continue our religious activities. I hope the police remove the police tape surrounding our mosque."