Arya Dipa, Bandung, West java – Ahmadis in Ciamis, West Java, are observing their religious activities as usual at the Nur Khilafat Mosque, despite a call from the local Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) for them to cease worshipping in a bid to maintain security and order.
"Everything is normal and secure as of now. Hopefully, it will always remain the same," said Ahmadi preacher Syaiful Uyun on Friday.
Earlier, the MUI's Ciamis chapter called on the Ahmadis to discontinue every form of activity at the mosque to create a conducive atmosphere in the regency. The call was conveyed through a letter signed by the MUI Ciamis regency chapter head and secretary on April 23.
Syaiful expressed the hope that he and the other Ahmadis could still carry out their activities and worship as usual.
The previous day, Uyun said his group had sent a written response to the MUI. The four-page letter, containing 26 points, was signed by the Ahmadiyah Congregation Ciamis chapter head Kamal Abdul Aziz and preacher Fadhal Ahmad.
The letter was also addressed to the West Java governor, police chief, military command chief, prosecutor's office head, religious office head, MUI head and Ciamis regent, as well as the Bandung Legal Aid Institute.
In the first point, Kamal said Indonesia was a Pancasila-based state and not a theocratic country. According to him, Indonesia has ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which guarantees every citizen's right to adhere to their respective religion and worship according to their faith.
For every Ahmadi, added Kamal, the state-based ideology of Pancasila, the 1945 Constitution and the principle of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity) were fixed, so he warmly welcomed the MUI's call for every community to create a favorable situation and unity.
"With all due respect, we cannot fulfill the plea from the MUI Ciamis chapter," Kamal wrote.
In the letter, the Ahmadiyah community ensured that the local community did not object or was not disturbed by the presence of the mosque, or activities taking place there.
They also quoted President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as saying, "the state does not ban Ahmadiyah, but the state regulates." The following point stated, "the Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Djoko Suyanto said the government had apparently not decided on the Ahmadiyah sect in Indonesia, but the government's stance is clear, it is a faith that cannot be banned."
The MUI said the letter was issued based on the Joint Ministerial Decree in 2008, which stated the sect was not allowed to propagate its beliefs. "None of the articles in the joint decree banned Ahmadis from carrying out activities at the mosque," said Kamal.
In the past few years, Ahmadiyah communities across the country have been subject to violence from religious hard-liners who refuse to share a religious platform with Ahmadis.
West Java Police chief Insp. Gen. M. Iriawan said the police would protect every member of society irrespective of their views or faith. "Our efforts are aimed at protecting against undesired developments," said Iriawan.
Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/04/26/business-usual-ahmadis-w-java-despite-threat.html