'Prophet' fails to predict arrest

'Prophet' fails to predict arrest

PALU, Central Sulawesi: A resident of the Alabibi subdistrict,
Banggai Islands regency, Central Sulawesi province, has been
arrested after he announced that he was a Muslim prophet.

Sr. Comr. Tatang Somantri, director of the crime division of
the Central Sulawesi police, said that Zikrullah, the supposed
prophet, was arrested a few days ago at the request of local
figures.

According to Tatang, Zikrullah was charged with violating
Article 156 of the Criminal Code for sparking hostility among
religious believers that carries a maximum sentence of five years
jail. Zikrullah earlier built a "Ka'bah" (a small stone building
in the court of the Al Haram Mosque in Mecca) in his house
compound. He told his believers that they need not go to Mecca
any more to perform the Muslim pilgrimage, and instead they could
perform the pilgrimage around his own Ka'bah. -- JP