Family attacked over 'false' rituals

BOGOR: Hundreds of villagers in Cibungbulang, Leuwiliang district, Bogor regency, besieged the house of a resident on Wednesday and threatened to kill his entire family, who were accused of spreading heresies prejudicial to the Muslim religion.

The angry mob had started to physically assault Rusman alias Ulus, 45, and his family when the police came to calm them down.

The villagers dispersed after Rustam promised not to further propagate the alleged heresies in the village.

Cibunglang Police chief Second Insp. Parmin said that Rusman was a member of an organization called the Islam Union. Unlike the other villagers, Rustam did not celebrate the Prophet Muhammad's birthday and discouraged the people from praying for the dead.

There were three or four other families in the village who had joined Parmin's organization.--JP