Jakarta – The House of Representatives is pressing the government to issue a decision on Ahmadiyah, to prevent further violence over the controversial Islamic group.
Chairman of the House's Commission VIII overseeing religious affairs, Hazrul Azwar, told The Jakarta Post on Sunday the commission had set a June 12 date for a hearing with the home minister, religious affairs minister and attorney general to demand an explanation for their failure to issue a joint decree on the Islamic sect.
"We want to know how the government plans to resolve the dispute over Ahmadiyah. We also want to know why the government has not yet issued a decree banning the sect. If there are any problems (with outlawing Ahmadiyah), we want to know about them," said Hazrul of the United Development Party (PPP).
A previous hearing on the issue was canceled because the home minister and the attorney general were unable to attend.
The home minister, religious affairs minister and attorney general chair the Coordinating Board for Monitoring Mystical Beliefs in Society. The board recommended in April the government outlaw Ahmadiyah, after seeking advice from the Indonesian Ulema Council, which declared the Islamic sect "heretical".
State Secretary Hatta Radjasa said a joint decree on the sect would be issued "later this month".
Last week, members of the hard-line Islam Defenders Front (FPI) attacked peaceful demonstrators asking the government to allow Ahmadiyah followers to practice their faith.
Hazrul said the House commission would urge the government immediately to ban Ahmadiyah. "This no longer concerns freedom of religion. It's about blasphemy," he said. "If the government does not take action, we are afraid more conflicts will occur in society."
The secretary-general of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) faction at the House, Ganjar Pranowo, said prompt action by the government would put an end to the Ahmadiyah dispute."The government must decide something," Ganjar said.
However, instead of banning Ahmadiyah, he suggested President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono facilitate a dialogue between conflicting parties to find a peaceful solution. "For example, the President could call all the parties related to the conflict, including Ahmadiyah, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and even Muhammadiyah (the second largest Islamic organization in the country), to the State Palace for a dialogue.
"The President could ask them to talk to each other, and let the MUI convey its religious views. Later on, the government could simply formalize any decisions made," he said.
National Mandate Party (PAN) faction chairman Zulkifli Hasan agreed the government could no longer delay a decision on Ahmadiyah.
"The government just needs to announce its stance because it has the obligation to settle such cases. Eventually, it doesn't matter whether it outlaws the sect or not," he said. (nkn)