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