Police shelter Ahmadiyah followers

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: No less than 83 families of followers of the banned Islamic sect Ahmadiyah are still sheltering in the East Lombok police station.

West Nusa Tenggara governor Harun Al Rasyid said on Wednesday he expected the Ahmadiyah followers to repent and accept the mainstream teachings of Islam so that the Muslim community could welcome them back.

Harun said 53 families had already repented.

Hundreds of angry people attacked the homes of sect members and burned their mosque last month. A few days later supporters of another banned sect in the neighboring town of Bima were also attacked, forcing hundreds of people to seek refuge at the local police station. -- Antara