Canadian Muslim Community Condemns Violation of Religious Freedom and Confiscation of Property

    MISSISSAUGA, ON, April 21 /CNW/ - Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Canada
expresses grave concern regarding the recommendation of the Islamic Cleric
Council in Indonesia to ban the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. News reports
indicate that an Indonesian government team is drafting a decree that will ban
the Ahmadiyya sect. If adopted by the Indonesian Government, such an act would
result in the violation of the constitutional right to freedom of religion of
the members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and result in the seizing of
mosques and other religious properties.
    The members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Indonesia are
law-abiding and peaceful, having lived in Indonesia for decades in accordance
with their motto "Love for All, Hatred for None". A recent report by the CBC
noted that, despite this long history of peaceful existence, the recent
violence and civil unrest has been instigated and orchestrated by religious
extremists hailing from outside of Indonesia, primarily from Pakistan and the
Middle East. In other words, the lack of peace in Indonesia is being
instigated by non-Indonesians who advocate violating the Indonesian
constitution.
    The religious extremists who advocate the violation of the Ahmadiyya
Muslim Community's religious and constitutional rights do so on the basis of
the latter's belief in the prophethood of its founder, Hadrat Mirza Ghulam
Ahmad (1835-1908) of Qadian, India. However, the belief in his subordinate
prophethood is not only in keeping with the teachings of the Holy Qur'an but
prophesied by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon
him). The holding of such a belief is well within the constitutional rights of
the members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Indonesia.
    The adoption of the recommendation of the Council would indicate that the
Indonesian Government and its law enforcement are incapable of guaranteeing
the safety, security and constitutional rights and freedoms of peaceful and
law-abiding citizens. Such appeasement necessarily threatens and compromises
the rights and freedoms of all peaceful and law-abiding citizens leaving them
vulnerable to attack or to the instigation of attack by religious extremists
at any time. History has shown that where religious extremists are appeased,
eventually, the erosion of constitutional freedoms inevitably results.
Therefore, the Indonesian Government is urged to resist the pressures exerted
by religious extremists and to continue to uphold the constitutional right to
freedom of religion in Indonesia.

For further information: on the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Canada visit:
www.ahmadiyya.ca or www.alislam.org; Media Contact: Farhan Khokhar, Director -
Communications, (416) 716-2247, fkhokhar@Ahmadiyya.ca