Attack Against Ahmadiyah Mosque
By: Tahir Ahmad

As an Indonesian, I am very proud of our country’s diversity and tolerance.

I have learned that our Constitution, UUD 1945, protects the freedom to worship. When I read the news this morning that the Islam Defenders Front  (FPI) attempted to forcefully close a mosque of the Ahmadiyah Muslim Community, I became very disturbed. The FPI has attacked the very definition of what it means to be an Indonesian citizen. The Indonesian government has to realize that the FPI is an extremist group that cannot accept diversity and tolerance of various faiths. Not very long ago, the same group threatened followers of Christianity simply because they were preaching to Muslims.

If the Indonesian government does not take firm action to stop this I am afraid Indonesia will enter into a violent and chaotic situation similar to those facing countries such as Pakistan and Afghanistan today.