Indonesian Court begins trial of deadly Ahmadiyah attack

[News_Editor]

Indonesian Court begins trial of deadly Ahmadiyah attack

2011-04-27 01:26:28 GMT+7 (ICT)

SERANG, INDONESIA (BNO NEWS) -- An Indonesian Court on Tuesday began the trail of 12 men accused over the deadly attack on an Ahmadiyah community, the Jakarta Globe reported.

More than a thousand police officers were deployed to safeguard the Serang District Court in Banten province. In addition, two water cannons and three armored vehicles were placed in the 200-meter radius area surrounding the building.

The 12 Indonesian defendants shouted 'God is great' as they were entering the court building. They are accused of the mob slaying of three members of the Ahmadiyah group.

On February 6, a mob of 1,500 people attacked 21 members of the minority Islamic sect in Cikeusik, a village in the Banten province in western Java, brutally killing three people and seriously wounding five others.

About 30 police officers were present but did little to stop the attack, according to Human Rights Watch. The attack was also video recorded and later posted by various individuals and organizations on YouTube.

Widespread national and international condemnation of the attack ultimately prompted the Indonesian police to investigate the incident and arrest the 12 defendants. After the attack, Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali repeatedly urged the cabinet to issue a total ban on the Ahmadiyah.

Ali justified his claim in a 2005 fatwa issued by the Indonesian Ulemas' Council and the 2008 national anti-Ahmadiya decree. He also recommended that the government declare the Ahmadiyah faith a new religion that is not permitted to make use of Islamic symbols such as the Quran, its rituals, and the Prophet Mohammed.

On February 28, the provincial government in East Java banned the activities of the Ahmadiyah community, including the display of their mosque and school signs and the use of "electronic media" to extend their teachings. On March 3, the government in West Java, Indonesia's most populous province, also banned the sect's activities.

Both provincial governments based their laws on the June 2008 national decree by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, violations of which can result in prison sentences of up to five years.

On March 7, the Jakarta provincial government canceled the ban on the Ahmadiyah religious group following an appeal demanding a thorough investigation on the issue before imposing the ban.

The Ahmadiyah movement was founded in 1889 by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad and the group identifies themselves as Muslims but differ with other Muslims as to whether Muhammad was the final monotheist prophet. As a result, some other Muslims perceive the Ahmadiyah as heretics. Approximately 300,000 Indonesians follow the faith.

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