Religious Intolerance
Dec 17th, 2007, in News, by PatungIt’s the season for attacks on mosques and Islamic schools in West Java.
Recent news of persecution of the Ahmadiyah sect.
Padang
In Padang, West Sumatra, 30th November, dozens of people from the Front Masyarakat Pembela Islam attacked premises belonging to an Ahmadiyah congregation and tore down signs.
In Padang.
One Irfiandi of the FMPI said his members were fed up with the provincial government not taking action against Ahmadiyah and other heretical sects, especially considering that the Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI) had declared Ahmadiyah to be beyond the pale two years ago. l6
Bogor
In Bogor, West Java on 12th December members of the Gerakan Umat Islam (GUI) protested outside the secretariat office of Ahmadiyah in the centre of Bogor, and shouted “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar”.
Those inside the Ahmadiyah office had been pre-warned about the demonstration and they had called on the help of the Jemaah Islam Liberal (JIL), which sent dozens of university students who then engaged in a shouting match with the GUI men.
Police in riot gear were present and managed to persuade the GUI to withdraw.
The Gerakan Umat Islam (GUI) later went to police headquarters in Bogor and filed a complaint over the existence of Ahmadiyah in the town. Their leader, Habib Abdurrachman Assegaf, also said the MUI had declared Ahmadiyah heretical and therefore the authorities should take action and encourage Ahmadiyah people to return to true Islam. antara
Kuningan
In Kuningan, West Java on 13th December three mosques belonging to Ahmadiyah were closed by the local government in the interests of keeping the peace in the area. After violence in Kuningan in 2004 the municipal government banned the group. l6
Mosque being sealed in Kuningan.
However there remain four other Ahmadiyah mosques in Kuningan which the 3,000 strong Ahmadiyah faithful in the town continue to use. l6
Other Islamic groups being attacked.
Serang
In Baros, Serang, Banten on 13th December an Islamic boarding school called Miftahul Huda was burned down by a mob. Six motorcycles were also destroyed. About 50 students of the school ran away but no-one was hurt. Two fire engines put out the blaze while two platoons of police arrived. antara
Local people claimed the school taught an unorthodox type of Islam, called “Kunci Suci”. l6 One villager complained:
They’re heretical because they believe that you can see God’s light when you close your eyes.
Garut
In Leles, Garut, West Java, on 15th December the Bidayatul Hidayah Islamic school and the home belonging to its principal were attacked by a mob and vandalised. The attackers carried sharp weapons and injured three people.
Some local people accuse the school of being unorthodox, although in a for now unclear way. antara
Indonesian language version – Ketidakbebasan Beragama.
18 Comments on “Religious Intolerance”
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Rambutan says:
JIL = Jaringan (not Jemaah) Islam Liberal. Liberal Islam Network.
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Sputjam says:
Religion dis-unites.
Mohamed was against idol worship. The Haj promotes one.
Jesus relayed God’s messages. Now he is being worshipped.
Mankind eventually corrupts the Holy scriptures.
The people of indonesia will face towards Mecca or jerusalem in their worship rituals, but this is true only if the world is flat. The truth is, they are facing outer space in their rituals. In order to face directly to their holy cities, they will have to incline several degree below ground level in the same directon estimated at 20 degree angle. whether the worshippers are able to stand staright whilst performing their ritual is another matter.
The eskimos, if they follow the faith of muslim religionist, will starve to death if the month of ramadan falls in summer, as the sun never sets.Despite these fact, many will blindly follow their religion, mostly inherited. They never reason on strange rituals because they have been brain-washed never to question those with religious authority, and these authority can be their own parents.
Observe the workings of the universe. And come to your own conclusion.
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raden says:
I am so sad, Indonesian still practice AMOK. No one above the law and poses the rightful action to vandalize or burn down other’s properties/assets.
This title should be changed to ‘unlawful acts tolerance in Indonesia’. -
Dragonwall says:
These are work of incompetent clerics who preaches religious tolerance but induce their public followers into religious intolerance. Just wonder what will it become of Indonesia in the future. Seems they are going toward more and more serious setbacks to their belief.
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iamisaid says:
Why suddenly anti Amahdiyah, anti Kunci Suci, anti Bidayatul Hidayah Islamic all occuring less than 2 days apart at different locations?
Is it a nationwide crackdown ops?
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Of course! After Bahai was outcast, they are doing their religious cleansing. In another words consolidation of religious power.
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WOW! got to hand it to those anti movement guys. They are more effective than what I have seen in Indonesia of uniformed personnel.
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There is a better way of curing the corruption cancer. Get these guys and give them some incentives and they will turn any anthills upside down. You know like banks who uses muscleman from Ambon for debt collection. That could be effective..
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Majelis Ulama Indonesia must be responsible for all of this accidents because of their “fatwa”. Just wondering why the government doing nothing to stop this acts, please do something, is a secular country and everybody have the rights to express their faiths. Stop playing God !.
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Mohammed Khafi says:
I don’t think it is MUI working on their own instigation. It wouldn’t be a great stretch of the imagination to imagine petrodollars from the middle east being involved.
Peace
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JKS says:
It proved that people who do not worship to Mohamed SAW and his Allah considered enemy to mainstream Islam.
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Bogalakon says:
Moslems have the obligation to preserve their religion. That is why such things happen.
But you guys seem thinking that Islam is just like any other religion that can be practiced as much as they like. Take a good look at Islam. This religion has an exact definition of faith and retains Al-Qur’an in its original version even after 1500 years. But look at what has happened to Christianity, this religion has so many sects as many as its fellow and with so many different version of bible, either they are still debating whether Jesus is or is not God.
So if this people (Ahmadiah, Al-qur’an suci, Alqiyadah) really want to keep their faith, why didn’t they name it a new religion instead of Islam? Islam tolerates a lot of sect as long as its basic faith is suite to the fundamental teaching of Qur’an. But these sect claims that they has a new prophet and a new verse of holy book.
Imagine a company with a brand of their product, then how would they react if others pirate their product and mark it with the same brand?
In fact Islam now is facing a lot of people who want to hijack this religion, just like what Osama bin Laden or Imam Samudera does. They are doing what is not taught in the Qur’an and claim that it is Islam. -
ade wanto says:
JKS Says: It proved that people who do not worship to Mohamed SAW and his Allah considered enemy to mainstream Islam.
Mainstream Islam do not make enemy to anyone who do not worship to Mohamed SAW and his Allah. Moslems do not make compulsory to anyone to be a Moslems too. Moslems just need everyone respect differences amongst believers. As our guidance, Quran, says, we do not worship what you worship nor you won’t worship mine. What you believe is yours, what we believe is ours.
I think if we can respect to all differences we (all believers whatsoever their religion) can live in togetherness (and, in the world history, Islam has many evidences that all believers can live in harmony) But, there are some people still believe that those have “the right path” so they believe all people must follow their path and save by them. It is ridiculous. In fact, there are so many religions that difference to each other. I think tolerance will only build by respect difference amongst religion believers.
In this modern age, it is hard to believe that those are peoples still believe that only one religion believer can save all. Let say, Christians can save all people if all people are Christians. So please do not have to arguing what Moslems believe and surely, do not ill, humiliate and disgrace what Moslems believe.
Anyway, if some people burn other people property, it must be punish by law. And, if some people use Islamic thought to convey something in contrary with Islam itself such as Ahmadis do, Moslems have a obligation to ask it. Of course, it is wrong burn other properties even they claim their act “in the name of god”.
TONI Says: … is a secular country and everybody have the rights to express their faiths. Stop playing God.
Indonesia is not secular country nor religious country as well even Moslems are majority. But, Indonesian law clearly stated that all Indonesian citizen must heed one of six religions that admit by law. Ahmadis faith is totally hijack Islamic way of life therefore Indonesians Moslems (and in their homeland too, Pakistan) prohibit this cult. And, I believe what Indonesian Moslems do as same as other Moslems community in the world. It is not about freedom of expressing faith. It is about some people who misguided Islamic way of life and tell it is true Islam.
I agree to Bogalakon that says : “So if this people (Ahmadiah, Al-qur’an suci, Alqiyadah) really want to keep their faith, why didn’t they name it a new religion instead of Islam? Islam tolerates a lot of sect as long as its basic faith is suite to the fundamental teaching of Qur’an“.
Happy New Year guys. Let’s make Indonesia and this world safe for everybody.
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ravi says:
Do we still have a government?
This is because our leaders (govt) are so afraid of the MUI and all of them.
We have chosen the wrong person to lead this country. -
ravi,
Do we still have a government?
This is because our leaders (govt) are so afraid of the MUI and all of them.
We have chosen the wrong person to lead this country.I understand what you have posted but I don’t quite understand where you are coming from with that kind of statement.
If you have taken the time to read the article, there was this….
Police in riot gear were present and managed to persuade the GUI to withdraw.
and this…..
three mosques belonging to Ahmadiyah were closed by the local government in the interests of keeping the peace in the area.
Are these not indications of a Government in existence?
Regarding to what happened in Padang as reported by this article…
said his members were fed up with the provincial government not taking action against Ahmadiyah and other heretical sects, especially considering that the Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI) had declared Ahmadiyah to be beyond the pale two years ago.
does not infering that the Government has not done anything. It reports what one attacker claims (that the Government was inactive) and therefore serves as justification for the attack.
If you are impartial, you would recognise the legal fact, that taking the law into one’s own hand is illegal. Why did you fail to make that comment?
Your suggestions by way of questioning with unfounded facts is just as injurious to the truth and just as dangerous as the attacks made by the mob.
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Abdul Fackir says:
Allahu akbar! Death to the Infidels! Indonesians must follow the examples set by their arabic big brothers who are constantly helping in times of calamities like sending billions of dollars for the tsunami victims. saudi big brother take cares of Indonesian maids like little sister.
Salam.
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Rida says:
Ohh gee, Abdul Fackir, I hope you’re joking. Right, do we have to start raping, torturing and killing our maids too just like our Saudi brothers?
Anyway, it’s true, some nuts are acting more and more barbaric, and screaming the name of God while killing Ahmadi muslims and destroying mosques! West Sumatrans brought Ahmadiyah to Indonesia. We lived side by side for decades without any problems. I have relatives who are Ahmadis. No problem then, no problem now. We often pray together. But now they can’t worship freely. Look what the stupid fatwa has done. MUI, the religion affairs minister and the government, especially President SBY you have blood in your hands! I can’t believe there so many heartless people who blame the victims. How can you call yourselves poeple of God and feel nothing when human beings are suffering? We are looking more and more like Talibans. God help us!
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Well I think it seems like typical pattern before 2008 election, isn’t it? Let’s make chaos and make everything in disorder, then some people will pop up like Heroes to make everything right, and hopefully win the election. I’ve been wonder why my people can be so idiot and easy to mislead. I’m watching TV about the topic, and even people surround the mosque which in attacked have no idea where all the mob came from. They’re totally outsiders, sounds strange huh. Yeah, but I agree that the best thing we can do to our community is to teach tolerance in the right way, not only in religion but in many ways. Should campaign BHINNEKA TUNGGAL IKA (unity in diversity) hardly then.