Suryadharma who is also the general chairman of the Islam-based United Development Party (PPP) said regarding the proposal for the enactment of a law on inter-religious relations that it was not that easy to do it without a scientific study on it.
Medan, N Sumatra (ANTARA News) - Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali said the government was until now still studying views from various parties regarding the Ahmadiyah religious sect.

He said after opening the working meeting of the ministry`s officials from across North Sumatra province here on Friday that some had proposed dissolving the sect group Ahmadiyah while others had called for letting it to live as a form of religious freedom.

"We must pay attention to all the views and so we are now still studying and no dissolution has been done," he said.

Suryadharma who is also the general chairman of the Islam-based United Development Party (PPP) said regarding the proposal for the enactment of a law on inter-religious relations that it was not that easy to do it without a scientific study on it.

"It is not also easy for the government to enact a law as studies need to be first done for it," he said.

The Secretary General of the Ministry of Religious affairs, Bahrul Hayat, meanwhile said that the government would be careful in responding to calls from various parties for the dissolution of Ahmadiyah.

"The government once again will be very careful about it," he said in Jakarta on Saturday.

He said the government had to hold dialogs with parties concerned, Islamic organizations and all elements concerned and also with Ahmadiyah followers with regard to that.

In view of that, he appealed to all religious and religious organization leaders to help and encourage people to exercise restraint and learn the essence of the joint ministerial decree on Ahmadiyah.

"We hope religious leaders and figures could jointly hold a dialog with and lead them in Ahmadiyah so that they would feel part of the country`s citizens. If they could do it well they could upon their own decision return to Islam," he said.

Three Ahmadiyah followers were killed in a clash between them and those opposing them in Cikeusik, Pandeglang district, Banten province, early this month. (*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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