Lombok calm after attack on Islamic sect

Lombok calm after attack on Islamic sect

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: Calm returned on Monday to Batuyang
village in East Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara after a mob burned
down a mosque and destroyed eight houses belonging to members of
the Indonesian Islam Propagation Council (LDII) sect over the
weekend.

Regent Syahdan and West Nusa Tenggara Police chief Brig. Gen
Iman Haryatna held a meeting with members of the local community
and religious leaders on Monday to resolve the conflict.

The police sent dozens of police personnel to Batuyang village
in anticipation of further attacks.

A group of locals attacked the LDII Muslim sect on Saturday
and Sunday evenings over differences in religious practices,
forcing 75 people to run to the police station for protection.

Locals accused LDII of preaching and practicing a deviant form
of Islam.

No casualties were reported in the attack that saw one mosque
and eight houses belonging to the sect burned down.

The incident was the second attack against Muslim sects in
East Lombok.

Residents had attacked members of the Ahmadiyah sect in nearby
Pancor Selong on Sept. 12, setting on fire eight houses and
destroying dozens of other buildings, including a mosque. At
least 280 Ahmadiyah followers are staying at the Transito
dormitory in Mataram. --JP