'It's now very dangerous to be different'

A mob attacked the Indonesian Ahmadiyah Congregation (JAI) in Parung, Bogor, two weeks ago, believing that Ahmadiyah teachings ran counter to Islam. None of the attackers were apprehended, and the government has banned the movement. The Jakarta Post asked residents for their comments on this matter.

Ida, 40, is a homemaker. She lives with her husband and three children in Cililitan, East Jakarta:

Two of my children are now in senior high school and university. They have joined a religious discussion group in their own school. I think they have a tendency to be liberal and different from my own traditional Islamic beliefs.

I respect what they believe, and it's probably a part of a process of maturing. However, the recent attack on Ahmadiyah by radical groups makes me worry. I am afraid that my children will be the next target as what they are learning is different from mainstream teachings.

I am thinking about them everyday. Recently, I warned them to stop going to the discussion group for a while to avoid any threats.

It seems that it is now very dangerous to have different beliefs in Indonesia.

Wulandari, 38, is a teacher at a junior high school in Bumi Serpong Damai (BSD) city. She lives in Cisauk district, Serpong, Tangerang regency:

In this plural society, tolerance is a key word for us so that we can live in harmony.

Islam teaches its followers to be tolerant towards other faiths. I think other religions also do the same. The Prophet Muhammad used to say, "Your religion is your religion. My religion is my religion."

Tolerance does not mean that we must agree with ideas or faiths of other people. We, however, must respect their ideas or faiths and we must not force other people to agree with our ideas or faiths.

Problems often occur when people cannot accept that.

-- The Jakarta Post