Ahmadiyah gets House support

Ahmadiyah gets House support

JAKARTA: The House of Representatives gave its support on
Tuesday to the Indonesian Ahmadiyah Congregation (JAI) to go
ahead with its activities in the country, despite a fatwa against
the group by the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI).

Lawmakers with the House Commission on foreign affairs,
defense and information pledged to help Ahmadiyah gain freedom in
carrying out its religious activities here.

They said they would also pressure law enforcement personnel
to take firm action against the Muslim hard-liners who recently
attacked Ahmadiyah in Parung, Bogor and other areas.

"Please go ahead with your preaching ... The attackers must be
dealt with firmly. Religious institutions should settle their
differences through a dialog, not violence. Branding others
'infidels' is not justified in a democratic society," Dedi
Djamaludin Malik of the National Mandate Party (PAN) asserted
during a meeting of Ahmadiyah leaders and the Commission I.

Effendy Choiry, who chaired the hearing, said Commission I
would question military chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto about the
alleged involvement of soldiers in the attack on the Ahmadiyah
compound.

"I am glad and feel optimistic to hear statements from members
of Commission I, who are concerned about us," Ahmadiyah spokesman
Ahmad Supardi said during the meeting. --Antara