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