Home Worldwide Indonesia February, 2011 PPP lawmaker interrupts…

NATIONAL Tue, 02/22/2011 2:50 PM

Hasrul Azhar, the House Islamic United Development Party (PPP) chairman, has proposed the establishment of legislative inquiry on Ahmadiyah.

Hasrul interrupted a House of Representatives’ plenary session suddenly on Tuesday, only to ask House speakers to officially declare the minor Islamic sect Ahmadiyah illegal.

“Ahmadiyah has become the source of social conflicts and violence. It is deviant and could bring deviance to Muslims.

“Therefore, I request this forum declare that Ahmadiyah is deviant and must be disbanded,” Hasrul told the session.

Said Abdullah of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) responded Hasrul’s statement by saying it was only the government that had the authority to decide Ahamdiyah’s fate in Indonesia.

“It is very inappropriate to judge Ahmadiyah in this forum. The House of Representatives is neutral and must accommodate Indonesia’s unity in diversity [bhinneka],“ he said.

Hasrul replied, “It was just a proposal. We may also propose to establish an inquiry on Ahmadiyah!“

Tuesday’s plenary session was scheduled to endorse a proposal to establish an inquiry into corruption in the Indonesian taxation system, which has triggered heated tensions between lawmakers.

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