Arfin Tompodung – detikSouth Sulawesi
Saturday, 07 Jun 2025
Photo: State Islamic Institute (IAIN) Manado. (doc. IAIN Manado)
Manado – The State Islamic Institute (IAIN) Manado , North Sulawesi (Sulut), canceled a book review event discussing Ahmadiyah. The policy has sparked controversy after IAIN Manado was deemed to have damaged the climate of academic freedom.
The book review was scheduled to be held in the IAIN Manado hall on Monday (2/6/2025). This activity will review the book entitled ‘Menyingkap Jujur Sejati Ahmadiyah’ by an academic from Gorontalo, Samsi Pomalingo who is also an alumnus of IAIN Manado.
The activity was held by Gusdurian Manado, the IAIN Manado House of Religious Moderation and the North Sulawesi Coalition for the Advocacy of Freedom of Religion and Belief (KBB). Later, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) of Manado City and the MUI of North Sulawesi (Sulut) wrote to the IAIN Manado Rectorate to stop the activity.
“We ask the Chancellor of IAIN Manado to consider holding a book review activity entitled, ‘Revealing the Veil of the Truth of Ahmadiyah’,” said the Chairman of the North Sulawesi MUI Abdul Wahab Abdul Ghafur to journalists, Thursday (5/6).
In its letter, the North Sulawesi MUI alluded to Fatwa Number: 11/MUNAS-VII/MUI/15/2005. The fatwa stipulates Ahmadiyah as a prohibited sect or understanding whose teachings may not be spread in Indonesia.
“The government is obliged to prohibit the spread of Ahmadiyah ideology throughout Indonesia and freeze the organization and close all its places of activity,” he said.
Abdul Wahab explained that MUI is here to uphold the truth and prevent falsehood. His party is in a position to remind people to take preventive measures against despicable acts.
The MUI carries out its duties to prevent the development of sects or understandings that are contrary to Islamic teachings. Meanwhile, the book review activity with the theme of Ahmadiyah is considered contrary to the MUI fatwa.
“The Indonesian Ulema Council acts as a vehicle for enforcing amar makruf nahi mungkar, namely by upholding truth as truth, and falsehood as falsehood with full wisdom and consistency,” he explained.
IAIN Manado then followed up on the letter from the MUI Sulut and MUI Manado. From the results of the campus leadership meeting, it was finally decided that the book review event was canceled. This policy was decided a day before the event was held.
“IAIN Manado is maintaining conducive conditions so that the activity is considered not to be carried out at IAIN Manado,” said IAIN Manado Chancellor Prof. Ahmad Rajafi who was confirmed separately.
Ahmad said that this cancellation was only a follow-up to external reactions in this case the MUI Manado and MUI North Sulawesi. He reiterated that this decision was not taken unilaterally by IAIN Manado.
“Because there has been an external reaction to that activity (via) the (MUI) letters. An external reaction, because MUI is not from IAIN,” said Ahmad.
Read also:
Ahmadiyah Themed Book Review at IAIN Manado Cancelled, Draws Criticism
Similarly, IAIN Manado Public Relations Officer, Anis Fitrohatin said, the policy was solely to maintain security and order in the campus environment. IAIN Manado has no intention of reducing academic freedom.
“IAIN Manado remains committed to being an open campus that supports the development of science and becomes a mouthpiece for religious moderation through its mission as a multicultural campus,” said Anis in his statement.
Anis also invited all academicians and the community to jointly maintain the dignity of IAIN Manado. He wants to create a campus atmosphere that is conducive to the development of science and constructive dialogue.
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Categories: Ahmadis, Ahmadiyyat: True Islam, Asia, Indonesia, Intra-Religious Tolerance