Hotli Simanjuntak, Banda Aceh – A number of Friday prayer congregation members forcefully ended a sermon being delivered by a khatib (preacher) and dragged him down from the podium because "they were irritated by the sermon's content".

The preacher, Teungku Saiful Bahri, was alleged to have strongly criticized the political behavior of local politicians, including former members of the now-defunct Aceh Freedom Movement (GAM).

He suffered injuries to his head from being beaten up and was rushed to hospital. He suspected that the assailants came from the Aceh Transitional Commission.

"I was not attacking individuals but criticizing their behavior, which is vested with personal interest," Saiful said. Saiful lambasted the Aceh bylaws, which according to him were drafted only to betray the Acehnese.

He indirectly accused former GAM combatants of stashing wealth and riches during the post-war period. "[They] build mansions and buy luxury cars on Aceh's blood," he said from the podium.

Suddenly, a number of congregation members, who are thought to be former GAM members currently affiliated with the Aceh Party, came forward and told Saiful to get down. They said Saiful was politicizing the sermon.

Saiful insisted on remaining on the podium and continuing his sermon, before he was forcibly dragged down and beaten up. Other congregation members intervened and rushed Saiful out of the mosque.

Saiful is the chairman of the Muhammad Nazar Center (MNC) volunteers, which is affiliated to the SIRA Party, and which is part of the campaign team for Aceh's deputy governor Muhammad Nazar, who is running for the gubernatorial post. Former GAM combatants support Zaini Abdullah for the post.