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National scene: Ahmadis in Bangka told to convert or leave
An Ahmadi group in Srimenanti, Bangka, has reportedly been discriminated against by the local administration, including being evicted
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n Ahmadi group in Srimenanti, Bangka, has reportedly been discriminated against by the local administration, including being evicted.
Indonesian Ahmadiyah Congregation (JAI) spokesperson Yendra Budiana said that men from the group had been denied identity cards.
'There were pressures from certain groups for them to not be granted ID cards,' he said on Monday, as quoted by tribunnews.com.
Yendra said that Ahmadis in West Nusa Tenggara, East Java, Central Java and West Java had experienced similar treatment.
He cited as an example around 5,000 Ahmadis living in Kuningan, West Java, who often encountered problems when applying for IDs and getting married.
Earlier, the JAI sought the government's protection for the group in Bangka after the Bangka administration issued a letter pressuring Ahmadiyah followers in Srimenanti subdistrict to convert to the Sunni teachings of the Indonesian Muslim majority or face expulsion from the regency.
The local authorities finally visited the group on Friday, asking them to convert or leave. The media reported that 20 Ahmadis left the area that day.
The government has denied the evictions. The ministry's director general for political affairs and general administration, Soedarmo, said that on the contrary, it had tried to provide protection for the group.
'It's not true. [They were] not evicted. There were only three families in the area,' he said.
