Jakarta – Deputy Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar has targeted police to resolve religious attacks against an Ahmadiyah mosque – taking a different stance on the issue than his superior.

Nasaruddin said police should take Friday's attack in Singaparna, Tasikmalaya, West Java, seriously and urged the arrest of any perpetrator of violence, Antara news agency reported. "This is a national task for all of us... the police must immediately unveil the identity of the assailants," he said on Monday.

This came after Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali stated that Ahmadiyah followers must obey the law – a reference to the 2008 Joint Ministerial Decree banning members of the Ahmadiyah Indonesia Congregation (JAI) from propagating their religious beliefs.

The United Development Party (PPP) chairman said that while the offenders must be charged, "the Ahmadis must leave their defiant beliefs."

But Nasaruddin said the decree has "loopholes" in relation to protecting the minority groups. He added that the members of House of Representatives must pass the long-awaited religious harmony bill into law without any more fuss.

"The law is needed to bridge the gap between many religious groups in our country... as well as to sustain harmony between them," he said. (asa)