Joint ministerial decree on Ahmadiyah being finalized : minister

Jakarta, NU Online
A joint ministerial decree (SKB) on the controversial Islamic sect Ahmadiyah is in the process of being finalized and expected to create a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere in the people`s religious life, Minister/State Secretary Hatta Rajasa said.

"The SKB is in a process of finalization and has to be signed by three ministers. One of them, the minister of religious affairs, is now still in Mecca but we hope the decree can be completed before long," Rajasa said here Thursday (5/6).<>

He noted it was taking time to draw up the decree because many parties needed to be involved in its formulation. "This is necessary to ensure that once issued, the decree will really bring tranquility, an atmosphere of peace and amity for all religious believers," he said.

"This is why, to formulate the decree , we need inputs from many different quarters," he was quoted by Antara as saying.

Rajasa claimed he still did not know in what specific way the decree would settle the Ahmadiyah issue as until now the three ministers had yet to report on what they had already done in regard to the matter nor had he discussed it with them. The three ministers were the home affairs and religious affairs ministers, and the attorney general.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and the Muslim Brotherhood Forum (Forum Ukhuwah Islamiyah) urged the government to issue the joint ministerial decree on Ahmadiyah without any further delay arguing that the government`s indecision on the matter had already led to horizontal conflict in the community.

"A further delay will prolong the situation of uncertainty and enable certain parties to disseminate pro-Ahamdiyah propaganda which will further fuel intra-communal hostilities among the public which is already suffering under heavy socio-economic burdens," the two organizations said as quoted by MUI General Secretary Anwar Abbas. (dar)