NU Online   · Monday, June 9, 2008

akarta, NU Online

Former president KH Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) welcomes those who want to propagate or campaign that Ahmadiyah is guilty. However, if they try to disband the sect that was declared heretical by the Indonesian Ulema Council, then it is clearly against the 1945 Constitution (UUD).

“If you make propaganda that Ahmadiyah is heretical or guilty, yes, please. But, if you eliminate Ahmadiyah, that is not right, because it is against the 1945 Constitution which guarantees freedom of opinion, freedom of thought,” explained Gus Dur to reporters at the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU) Office, Jalan Kramat Raya, Jakarta, Monday (9/6)

The former chairman of PBNU is determined to continue to defend Ahmadiyah’s existence in Indonesia as long as he is alive. Because, what he did was to defend the truth and uphold the 1945 Constitution.

Ahmadiyah, he added, is clearly protected by the laws in force in Indonesia.

Gus explained that the Ahmadiyah has the right to live and thrive in the country, and the 1945 Constitution provides constitutional support.

“The Ahmadiyah issue is based on the 1945 Constitution. So, it still has the right to exist,” he explained.

Regarding the conflict in society due to the pros and cons of the Ahmadiyah issue, according to Gus Dur, it occurred because the government did not have the courage to act decisively. “That’s the government’s fault for not having the courage. Don’t blame me,” said the grandson of the founder of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Hadratus Sheikh KH Hasyim Asy’ari.

Previously, Gus Dur emphasized that he was ready to be an expert witness for the Ahmadiyah. He would do this if the Ahmadiyah was actually disbanded by the government and the case was brought to court.

“If necessary, become a defender of the Ahmadiyah, because this concerns our ability to defend Indonesian citizens,” Gus Dur emphasized while attending the Pancasila Birth Day Commemoration at the Central Executive Office (PP) of the Ansor Youth Movement (GP), Jalan Kramat Raya, Jakarta, Sunday (8/9). (rif)

source https://nu.or.id/warta/gus-dur-silakan-mempropagandakan-ahmadiyah-salah-YcORp