JAI sues Bogor administration

Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Bogor

Bogor authorities received on Thursday a lawsuit from the Ahmadiyah Indonesia Congregation (JAI) due to the closure of its mosques and the prohibition of its activities across the regency.

Head of the Bogor administration's legal office Z. Isvandiar said that they had received a copy of JAI's lawsuit through the organization's lawyer Adnan Buyung Nasution.

He said that in responding to the lawsuit the administration would also retain its own lawyer in the battle against the Muslim group that has enraged mainstream Muslims due to their belief in an extra prophet and restrictive prayers.

"We'll just follow the (legal) procedures," Isvandiar said, explaining that the lawsuit was against the Bogor administration's decision to ban JAI activities in the area.

In a joint statement, Bogor authorities recently declared Ahmadiyah to be an illegal organization and its activities were prohibited in Bogor Regency. Additionally, its Mubarak campus in Pondok Udik village, Kemang District was ordered closed down.

Bogor City Council chairman Rachmat Yasin said that JAI had retained the services of the Foundation of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute (YLBHI), under the coordination of Adnan Buyung Nasution, to file the lawsuit.

"Last month they even sent us a legal complaint, and we have forwarded our reply to the Bogor administration. This is the risk that we have to take for our actions," he explained.

Rachmat added that the closure of the Mubarak campus -- which was also the Ahmadiyah headquarters -- was done to avoid possible conflict between JAI and the local Muslims living near the compound.

In the meantime, the Secretary for the Bogor chapter of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) -- which also "outlawed" the sect -- KH U. Supyani, said that the council had not yet received the lawsuit letter.

"If JAI wants to sue us that's their right, we are ready to face them. They are suing us on the basis of human rights law, however, we closed down JAI because of the way they pray. We don't want segregation, if they claim to be Islamic, then let's conduct prayers together," he argued.