Prosecutor's Office studies Shi'ite ban

Prosecutor's Office studies Shi'ite ban

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: Head of West Nusa Tenggara
Prosecutor's Office Muchtar Arifin said on Monday that the office
would study the Mataram mayor's decision to ban the spread of
Shi'ite Islam in the municipality.

"The mayor has the authority to issue such a ban, but we have
to see if this (particular) ban is against the law. If it is, the
mayor must review his decision," he said.

Mayor Moh. Ruslan had issued a letter on June 2, banning the
spread of the religious sect in the city in an effort to avoid a
repeat of the incident in East Lombok and Sumbawa regencies,
where Ahmadiyah sect followers were expelled and their houses
burned after locals judged the teaching as straying from Islam.

Muchtar called on the citizens of Mataram to remain calm in
responding to the letter. -- Antara