Ahmadiyah Congregation complex in Kuningan closed by authorities<\/p>\n
Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post\/Kuningan<\/p>\n
The authorities closed down on Friday the Ahmadiyah Indonesia
\nCongregation's complex in Manis Lor village, Kuningan regency,
\nWest Java.<\/p>\n
The Kuningan regency administration, assisted by the local
\nprosecutor's office and the police, said it took the step based
\non a 1980 edict from the Indonesian Ulema Council that declared
\nthe teachings of Ahmadiyah forbidden, and as a precautionary move
\nto prevent any violence aimed at Ahmadiyah members.<\/p>\n
Kuningan Religious Affairs Office head Djainal Arifin said the
\nauthorities planned to close the complex since Dec. 20 last year,
\nwhen a joint decree was issued by the regency administration, the
\nprosecutor's office and the Kuningan Police authorizing the move.<\/p>\n
"But we wanted to wait for the right moment to prevent any
\nnegative reactions from local residents or the Ahmadiyah
\nfollowers themselves," said Djainal.<\/p>\n
He said the complex was closed after an agreement was reached
\nwith leaders of the local Ahmadiyah branch, adding that the
\nleaders understood the reason for the closure.<\/p>\n
A number of Ahmadiyah' facilities in the complex were sealed
\noff, including the main mosque, seven smaller mosques, a meeting
\nhall and a dormitory. Some 2,800 Ahmadis, as devotees are called,
\nlived in the complex before the closure.<\/p>\n
Djainal said his office had prepared a number of follow-up
\nmeasures after closing the complex, including working with the
\nAhmadiyah followers to convince them to return to "true Islamic
\nteachings".<\/p>\n
"We plan to forge a closer relationship with the followers in
\nthe short term, then follow that up by providing them guidance
\nand counseling," said Djainal.<\/p>\n
As the authorities shuttered the mosques in the complex on
\nFriday, a group of Ahmadis looked on, seemingly resigned to the
\nloss of their complex. There were no clashes with authorities.<\/p>\n
The operation was supervises by hundreds of security
\npersonnel, including 265 officers from the Kuningan Police and 70
\nmembers of the regency Civil Security Unit.<\/p>\n
The deputy chairman of the Ahmadiyah branch in Kuningan
\nregency, Yusup Akhmad, expressed his concern over the complex's
\nclosure, which he said would interrupt the activities of
\nfollowers.<\/p>\n
"We are very sad over the closure," said Yusup.<\/p>\n
Kuningan Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Suharno said hundreds of
\npolice personnel would be posted at the complex to secure the
\narea.<\/p>\n
This was the latest in a series of closures of Ahmadiyah
\nproperties since the group was targeted on July 15 by hundreds of
\nstone-throwing protesters in Pondok Udik subdistrict, Kemang
\ndistrict, Bogor. The attack left several buildings damaged,
\nincluding a women's dormitory that was set on fire.<\/p>\n
Set up in Pakistan in the 19th century by Gulam Ahmad Khan, it
\nis estimated that Ahmadiyah has some 200,000 followers in
\nIndonesia. The attackers in Bogor said Ahmadiyah was not a Muslim
\ngroup because it taught that Prophet Muhammad was not the last
\nprophet.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ahmadiyah-congregation-complex-in-kuningan-closed-by-authorities-1447893297",
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