An Ahmadiyya mosque in West Java was closed down by the a Police Unit Tuesday morning. The Al-Furqan Mosque which is located in Parakansalak subregion of Sukabumi district was built in 1975 and has been by the 200 strong Ahmadi community in the region. Earlier, a similar incident occurred twice, in March 31, 2015 and June 29, 2015 for the reason of not having permission from the Government of West Java Province.
Spokesman of the West Java Police confirmed the sealing of the Al-Furqan mosque saying “The sealing was done by the municipal police of Sukabumi,” “The sealing was done in as part of legal action for violating Bylaw Sukabumi number 10/2015 whcih deals with implementation of Public Order and Peace in Society,” he said.
Yusri said, during the sealing they was carried out by the 160 police personnel, members of the National and Political Unity Board of Sukabumi and a village official.
The sealing process began at 7 am, when two trucks of municipal police had gathered around the mosque area. The municipal police have installed a wooden bar on the Mosque door and posted flyers stating the mosque violated Bylaw No.10 2015 of Sukabumi regency.
Head of Ahmadiyya Masjid Al Furqan, Hanif questioned the forced closure and said that the officials were not able to explain the why they sealed the building that was being renovated.
Hanif who witnessed the police actions this morning said, there was no notice or warning and no legal procedure for such a closure was followed by the officials.
“We condemn the sealing, no prior written notice was given, We do not know for for what and how long the Mosque has been sealed for, When we ask for letters, they refuse to give,”
He said, the sealing has to do on the request of several groups who are not tolerant of the Ahmadiyya belief. “There was a demand by some residents who want our mosque closed. They submitted a letter to the regents, but we do not know of it’s contents,”
Hanif asserted, that the local community never had any problems with the Mosque goers. He was sure, rejection and request to seal the Mosque do not represent the views of the people around the mosque.
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