Council seeks ban on sect

PEKANBARU, Riau: The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) is seeking a nation-wide ban against Darul Arqam, a Moslem sect which it feels has deviated from the true teachings of Islam.

So far, Aceh and West Sumatra are the only provinces that have barred the activities of Arqam. However, MUI hopes that the government will consider banning them nationwide, MUI chairman Hasan Basri was quoted by the Antara news agency as saying.

Hasan said the council will issue a statement recommending that the Attorney General's office declare the sect illegal.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs said it has been closely monitoring the activities of the sect and found that its members have been active in promoting their views at colleges and universities. (emb)