Cianjur 'bans' Ahmadiyah

Cianjur 'bans' Ahmadiyah

JAKARTA: The Cianjur regency administration in West Java has
officially banned the teachings of Ahmadiyah, more than week
after hard-liners vandalized the mosques and houses of the
Ahmadiyah Congregation in the area.

Cianjur Regent Wasidi Swastomo signed the decree, which
temporarily bans Ahmadiyah from the regency, pending a nationwide
ban expected to come from the President, radio stations reported
on Wednesday.

It was not immediately clear how long the temporary ban would
exist.

Wasidi said earlier this week that Ahmadiyah teachings should
be banned as they were heretical, and that the decree was aimed
at curbing controversial religious teachings that created
conflict.

Ahmadiyah differs from mainstream Islam because adherents
believe that the last prophet of Islam was not Muhammad, but
Mirza Ghulam Achmad, who founded the sect in the 19th century in
Pakistan. -- JP