Author:
Publication: Adnkronos.com
Date: March 4, 2011
URL: http://www. adnkronos.com /IGN/Aki/English/Religion/Indonesia-New-ban-imposed-on-Ahmadiyah-Islamic-sect_311748875213.html
Following in the footsteps of East and West Java, Indonesia's South Sulawesi
provincial governor Syahrul Yasin Limpo on Thursday issued a ban on the Ahmadiyah
sect from practicing their religion publicly.
Syahrul said that the sect was neither registered
as a mass organization nor a religious organization in the administration.
"For that reason, I don't think it should
be a problem should the administration prohibit its activities here. We also
won't give them a permit to [to practice their religion publicly]," said
Syahrul as on Thursday.
The Ahmadiyah followers in Indonesia have
been experiencing a series of prosecutions in the country. In February a mob
of more than 1,500 people attacked an Ahmadi congregation.
Ahmadiyah is an offshoot of Islam founded
in India during the late 19th century.
He said he had issued a circular to ban all
activities of the Ahmadiyah Indonesia Congregation (JAI) in the province,
referring to a joint ministerial decree from the government that bans members
of JAI from propagating their religious teachings, but allows them to maintain
their faith and perform their daily religious duties.
Earlier on Thursday, West Java Governor Ahmad
Heriyawan also issued a similar decree, telling Ahmadis to stop performing
their activities in the province.
