Arya Dipa and Sita W. Dewi, Jakarta/Bandung – The Tasikmalaya Police are still guarding the Baiturahman mosque belonging to Ahmadiyah followers in Singaparna, Tasikmalaya, West Java, following Friday's attacks against the minority's property.
"We have deployed 10 personnel to watch the mosque in shifts," West Java Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Martinus Sitompul said on Saturday. He added that the police had received reports from the Ahmadiyah community and were still investigating the incident.
The Ahmadiyah community's Tasikmalaya branch spokesman Budi Badrussalam told The Jakarta Post that most of the 500 community members were safe and were currently staying in their own homes.
"About nine of us, including witnesses and those who were injured during the attack, are at the Tasikmalaya Police office for the second round of questioning," Budi said.
Hundreds of people, with some wearing white and green garments and others carrying Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) signs, attacked the mosque prior to Friday prayer. The attackers reportedly stormed into the mosque and burned the rugs and prayer mats. However, people were able to put out the fire before it expanded.
Martinus said that the police had talked with Ahmadiyah and FPI local leaders and that all parties had agreed to "keep the situation conducive".
Budi said that the community members had been on the receiving end of intimidation tactics from local authorities prior to the attack.
"We've been warned earlier this year by the local police after conducting a blood donor event with the Indonesian Red Cross. They argued that our activities might trigger people's anger. There was nothing wrong with the event, it was merely our social program," Budi said.
The warning was soon followed by a letter issued by the local Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and signed by local leaders in January, banning the community "from conducting all rituals".
The minority group has consistently been the subject of attacks in the country by various groups who deem the Ahmadiyah sect to be heretical.