Jakarta – Women and children from Jamaah Ahmadiyah families have been suffering not only repeated attacks but also discrimination and human rights abuses from Muslims outside the "deviant" Islamic sect, says a report.

The report, released Thursday by the National Commission on Violence against Women, was based on the commission's observations of Ahmadiyah followers nationwide between January 2005 and February 2008.

It shows Ahmadiyah women, currently living in refugee camps in Lingsar district in West Lombok regency and Praya district in Central Lombok regency, have been denied their right to freedom from gender-based violence, such as mockery, threats and sexual harassment.

Any Ahmadiyah woman married to a non-Ahmadiyah man has been forced to annul her marriage, denying the freedom to start a family, the report says.

Local people claimed marriages between Ahmadiyah women and non-Ahmadiyah men were religiously unlawful and that any child resulting from a marriage would be considered illegitimate.

Ahmadiyah women are also unable to make money because local people refuse to buy goods from them. When Ahmadiyah women offer fruit, vegetables or clothing in traditional markets, most local people avoid them and call them haram (forbidden).

The Ahmadiyah women's rights to health and reproduction have also been affected because they had been traumatized by the attacks, which had led to eating disorders and miscarriages, the report says.

"Besides the trauma, the lack of income has forced most pregnant women in the refugee camps to skip their routine pregnancy checks, which has led to miscarriages. They don't have enough money to see a gynecologist," Euis Siti Aisah, 30, an Ahmadiyah woman, said.

The report says Ahmadiyah children have lost their rights to freedom from discrimination and to education. Euis said Ahmadiyah children were facing difficulties in accessing education.

"For example, before going to school they are not allowed to take a bath in public bathrooms as they are considered haram. In schools, they are seated separately from other students. They also receive different class reports, which specifically identify their religion as Ahmadiyah," she said.

In response to the report, the women's commission has urged the government to immediately revoke all regulations that would justify discrimination against Ahmadiyah followers, especially women and children.

"The commission is aware of 23 regulations that can be interpreted as justification for people to commit violence against women, children and other followers of Ahmadiyah. Eight of the regulations take effect nationwide, while the rest are effective locally," said Arimbi Heroepoetri, who heads the commission's monitoring division.

Based on the report, Maria Ulfah Anshor, chairwoman of the women's wing of Nahdlatul Ulama, concluded the violence against Ahmadiyah followers, especially women and children, was politically motivated.

"It would be wise for the government to hold a dialogue and invite all relevant parties to discuss solutions to the problem," she said. (nkn)