Amnesty International called on the government on Wednesday to revoke the decree

that bans Ahmadiyah members from proselytizing, saying the regulation was one o
f the primary causes for an increase in religious violence in the country.
Saman Zia-Zarifi, director of the Asia-Pacific program at the Amnesty Internatio
nal, said the time had come for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to get seriou
s about tackling religious violence in the country.
“I had an open and frank discussion with the National Police chief, Nahdlatul Ulam
a, Muhammadiyah and church groups in Indonesia,” Saman said. “We urge Indonesia to f
ulfill its obligation to protect its citizens, regardless of their religious bel
iefs, in line with the Indonesian Constitution and the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights.
“The 2008 joint ministerial decree needs to be revoked. The country should not int
ervene in people’s religious choices.”
The police, Saman added, needed to publicly reiterate their commitment to protec
ting the rights of all Indonesians, regardless of their religious beliefs.
“The Indonesian police must ensure the trials of those who commit violence in the
name of religion are free from intimidation toward victims, witnesses and their
lawyers,” he said.
Last month, the Religious Affairs Ministry held a national dialog on the minorit
y Islamic sect, where the 2008 joint ministerial decree featured in discussions.
The Indonesia Ahmadiyah Congregation (JAI) declined to attend the event. They co
mplained they had too little time to prepare and only received four seats at the
conference.
The results of the dialog are expected to be used by the government to decide on
the fate of the sect and the controversial 2008 decree.
Meanwhile, a regional leader of one of the groups accused of leading attacks on
Ahmadiyah followers, the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), said he did not condone
violence against the group.
“Ahmadis are human beings. They have families,” Bambang Teddy, head of the FPI in Yo
gyakarta, said on Tuesday. “The way to diminish the influence of Ahmadiyah is not
with violence.”
However, Bambang said, Yogyakarta Governor Sultan Hamengkubuwono was running out
of time to issue a decree banning the activities of Ahmadiyah in the province.
As a special region, Bambang said, the sultan should be able to make a decision
independent of the central government.
If the sultan did not respond soon, he said, the local branches of the FPI would
coordinate with FPI headquarters, led by Habib Rizieq, who has previously advoc
ated violence against the sect.
“I’m worried that a war could break out against Ahmadiah in Yogya. I don’t want Yogya
to be unsafe,” Bambang said.

Copyright 2010 The Jakarta Globe

Source: www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/ahmadiyah-decree-triggers-