Indonesia: Ahmadiyah mosque, other facilities closed in Tasikmalaya

Tasikmalaya chapter FPI representative Wahyu said it was furious because Ahmadiyah was still carrying out its activities openly and breached the joint-ministerial decree.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | Int'l Desk
Source/Credit: The Jakarta Post | Jakarta
By Yuli Tri Suwarni and Arya Dipa | December 10, 2010

Ahmadiyah members in Tasikmalaya, West Java, have been gripped with fear following the closure of two of their facilities in the area on Wednesday by the Community Faith and Supervision Coordinating Board (Bakorpakem).

The closure took place after a meeting, demanded by the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), which said Ahmadiyah activities were still carried out by the group in the area despite the issuance of a joint-decree by three ministers on banning Ahmadiyah activities in 2009.

Head of the Tasikmalaya Ahmadiyah chapter Encang Zarkasih said Bakorpakem closed a mosque on Jl. Nagarawangi, Cihideung district, and the Al-Kautsar foster home in Cariang village, Kawalu district, located around 6 kilometers apart.

“When we asked them where we would pray, they said it is your own business,” said Encang.


Encang added that four Ahmadiyah representatives attended the meeting at the Tasikmalaya Bakorpakem on Wednesday. The meeting was also attended by Tasikmalaya chapter Indonesian Ulema Council head Acep Noor Mubarok, police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Hendra Suhartiono, military command chief Let. Col. Bahram and around 20 FPI members.

“The meeting focused more on defaming Ahmadiyah after the FPI urged the closure of the mosque and foster home. We went home dismayed due to the closure of our worship places,” Encang said on Thursday.

Tasikmalaya chapter FPI representative Wahyu said it was furious because Ahmadiyah was still carrying out its activities openly and breached the joint-ministerial decree.

“The Tasikmalaya municipality tends to be indecisive in handling the issue so we urged the government to ban all Ahmadiyah activities,” said Wahyu.

The Ahmadiyah members became more tense Thursday when a group of FPI members using motorcycles rode through the city and threatened to burn their facilities. Al-Kautsar foster home caretaker Iyon Sofyan said police had initially asked orphanage authorities to lock the home themselves before they locked it from the outside, but they refused.

“Why should I lock my own home. I refused. The police also asked everyone to exit, but those inside refused to do so,” said Iyon.




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