LM has written a number of articles expressing my concern about the treatment by Muslims towards Indonesia's Christian minority here and here.
However, it is the treatment towards the Ahmadiyya that is increasingly also causing irreparable harm and tarnishing Indonesia's image of diversity and tolerance. A recent gruesome incident involving the murder of 3 Ahmadis who were stripped naked, beaten, then stoned to death was utterly disgusting and abhorrent. The reaction of the authorities bizarrely was to ship Ahmadis off to Lombok island rather than apprehend the murderers.
Lets be clear, although LM is no scholar Ahmadis are deviant from Islam because they disgracefully believe that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was shockingly not the final prophet. LM completely agrees with Hazrul Azwar that Ghulam Mirza is a fake prophet. However, as Christians have their David Korresh armageddon freaks why do we majority Muslims worry so much about our own deviants. Why are we so insecure, lets be more mature in our reaction. LM would prefer Ahmadis to form their own religion and not call themselves Muslims but ultimately they will be judged for their heresy although not in this world.
Indonesia's constitution guarantees freedom of religion and protection of minorities. While the Ahmadis are certainly not my cup of tea they are Indonesians and as a result should be protected by the full force of law rather than being treated like Hannibal Lecter in the Silence of the Lambs when he was offered Anthrax Island in return for a plea bargain.
I completely agree with the scholarly consensus of the Ummah, from Sunnis to Shias & everyone in between that the Qadianis/Ahmadis are the Moonies.
ReplyDeleteIndividual Ahmadis as peaceful citizens, as long as they are not declaring war on their fellow citizens, deserve the full protection of the law as citizens. The state should make it clear either they are enemies or are under protection of Muslims. It is inhuman to leave them in limbo.
I was shocked to see defenceless worshippers being attacked. I do not think our beloved Prophet would approve of extra-judicial murder.
However, in the short-term, I think the only practical solution is to let them live in peace on their own East Timor/Bali. The reason is that the police cannot control something which may escalate into a civil war. What will happen if they form a terrorist group & team up with foreign powers?
The women, children, elderly & weak should be protected by Muslims without any qualms, as a matter of Islamic honour & duty. As a Muslim, I feel sorrow for them as human beings.