ISLAMIC ORGANIZATIONS' RALLY CALLS FOR AHMADIYAH'S DISBANDMENT

Jakarta, June 9 (ANTARA) - Thousands of Muslims grouped in the Peaceful Alliance against Islam's Defilement (ADA API) staged a rally calling for the disbanding of Ahmadiyah in front of the Merdeka Palace here on Monday. The participants of peaceful rally which was tightly guarded by hundreds of police personnel consisted mostly of women wearing white clothes. From the palace they marched to the Jakarta Police Headquarters where a number of Islam Defenders' Front (FPI) members are being detained over the recent Monas Square incident. The demonstrators' movements which were kept under constant watch by police equipped with water cannons, caused severe congestions in the main avenues through which they passed, namely Jalan Thamrin, Jalan Merdeka Barat and Jalan Merdeka Utara. They carried banners demanding the disbanding of Ahmadiyah, which they considered to be a deviant sect, and the release of FPI Chairman Habib Rizieq Shihab who is among the FPI personnel being held by the Jakarta Police. ADA API Coordinator Noer Mohammad Iskandar urged the government to put an end to the controversy concerning Ahmadiyah. He said the Ahmdiyah problem was an internal affair of Islam, a dispute between Muslims and Ahmadiyah's leaders as well as followers. "Therefore, I ask non-Muslims who do not understand Islamic teachings, not to interfere in the issue, because it will not help solve the problem, instead it will complicate the problem," he said.ADA API consists of a number of Islamic organizations such as Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), Aliansi Islam Ahli Sunah Wal Jamaah (Asuaja), and Forum Betawi Rempuk (FBR). - END.