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Tuesday, July 9, 2024
Illustration of a mosque loudspeaker. Doc. TEMPO/ Bernard ChaniagoADVERTISEMENT
TEMPO.CO , Jakarta – The Chairman of the Regional Executive Board of the Indonesian Ahmadiyah Congregation in Garut Regency, Cecep Ahmad Sentosa, ensured that conditions in Nyalindung Village, Ngamplang Village, Cilawu District, remained conducive following the sealing of the Ahmadiyah mosque by Satpol PP on Tuesday evening, July 7, 2024. Congregation activities continued normally without any significant unrest.
“We don’t see much of a ripple. We focus on carrying out our activities,” Cecep said when contacted by Tempo , Monday, July 8, 2024.
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Cecep said that his party had reviewed the location of the incident on Friday, July 5, 2024, or three days after the mosque sealing incident. In Nyalindung, he did not see any complaints or protests from local residents. In fact, said Cecep, the Ahmadiyah group had performed Friday prayers at one of the congregation’s houses.
“Friday there was nothing. Normal, calm, whether from outside, we passed by as well as normal,” he said.
Cecep explained that the sealing by Satpol PP was not the first time it had happened. In 2021, when the mosque was first built, Satpol PP also stopped it. Since then, the mosque has not been used until the construction progress continued in late 2023. At the end of that year, the Ahmadiyah congregation was able to use the mosque for worship.
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“But after that it stopped again because there was a ban,” said Cecep.
The sealing of the Ahmadiyah mosque in Garut was carried out by a team calling itself the Coordination Team for Supervision of Beliefs and Religious Sects in Society (Pakem) of Garut Regency. The team consists of several government and non-government agencies in Garut, including the District Attorney’s Office, Police, Kodim 0611/Garut, Ministry of Religion, Kesbangpol Agency, Satpol PP, Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), and the Interfaith Harmony Forum (FKUB).
Head of the Intelligence Section of the Garut District Attorney’s Office, Jaya P Sitompul, said that the sealing of the mosque was carried out by Satpol PP and the Pakem Team. In a written statement received by Tempo on Saturday, July 6, 2024, Jaya said that the sealing of the minority group’s mosque carried out by the government was “an activity to monitor and prevent abuse and/or blasphemy of religion”.ADVERTISEMENT SCROLL TO CONTINUE
Jaya said there are a number of rules that are the basis for closing the houses of worship of the minority group. Among them is the Joint Decree (SKB) of 3 Ministers Number 3 of 2008 concerning Warnings and Orders to Adherents, Members, and/or Members of the JAI Management. The rule prohibits Ahmadiyah followers from spreading their religion or carrying out religious activities.
In addition, said Jaya, there is also the West Java Governor Regulation Number 12 of 2011 concerning the Prohibition of Activities of the Indonesian Ahmadiyah Congregation in West Java.
“There is also a norm prohibiting adherents, members, and/or administrators of the Ahmadiyah Congregation from carrying out activities and/or activities in any form as long as they are related to activities to spread interpretations,” said Jaya.
Usama Ahmad Rizal, one of the companions of the Ahmadiyah community in Garut, said that the sealing of the Ahmadiyah mosque was carried out without any notification at all. “Without any prior dialogue process and it was also carried out at night,” said Usama, who is also the Coordinator of the Interfaith Solidarity Network or Sajajar, via telephone on Saturday, July 6, 2024.
Usama said there were around 50 to 60 officers deployed when sealing the Ahmadiyah mosque. He also admitted to being surprised by the government’s reason for saying there were reports or protests from residents about the existence of the Ahmadiyah mosque. Because, said Usama, Ahmadiyah residents in Garut have had good relations with the people living around them.
RIO ALPINE | SULTAN ABDURRAHMAN
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Categories: Ahmadis, Ahmadiyyat: True Islam, Indonesia