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Organized persecution of
Shiites launched

Arya Dipa, The Jakarta Post, Bandung | Headlines | Mon, April 21 2014, 9:01 AM

Hatred for sale: A vendor offers a DVD containing a speech that rails against the teachings of Shia Islam, at an Anti-
Shia National Alliance meeting at Al Fajr Mosque in Bandung, West Java, on Sunday. The alliance said in its
declaration that the teachings of Shiites should be banned in Indonesia. A small group of radical Muslims, including
this alliance, is preaching hatred against minorities. JP/Arya Dipa
More than 1,000 people attended an anti-Shia declaration on Sunday at the Al Fajr mosque
in the West Java capital of Bandung, in what appeared to be the first organized attempt to
persecute Shiites in Indonesia.

Supported by a dozen high-profile clerics, the Anti-Shia National Alliance called on the
public to fight what they said to be the proliferation of Shia influence, which they deemed a
heresy in Sunni-majority Indonesia.

The alliance, formed to spearhead Shia persecution nationwide, also called on the public
not to support presidential hopeful and Jakarta Governor Joko Jokowi Widodo as his
party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), had promoted a top Shia figure
to become a legislative candidate.

The alliances chairman, Athian Ali, declared four points in the organizations guidelines,
which included approving the use of violence to prevent heretical teachings.

Theres growing public concern about the spread of the Shia [branch of Islam]. Its our duty
to protect society, said Athian, who has a degree from Al Azhar University in Egypt.

Aside from Athian, other luminaries attending the event included Abdul Hamid Baidlowi, a
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) cleric. His father helped found the NU, the countrys biggest Muslim
organization, known for supporting tolerance and pluralism.

NU cleric Ahmad Cholil Ridwan, a graduate of the Islamic University of Madinah in Saudi
Arabia, is also one of the alliances staunch supporters.

Cholil said the alliance would fight on the political front in response to the PDI-Ps decision
to choose Shia figure Jalaluddin Rakhmat as its top legislative candidate for the West Java
area in the April 9 legislative election.

It remains unclear whether Jalaluddin has secured a legislative seat.

Dont choose Golput [to abstain] in the coming presidential election. It will pave the way for
Jokowi to become the president. If hes elected, Jalaluddin will be his religious affairs
minister. Do you all want that? said Cholil before the crowd.

A Shia-linked organization, the Indonesian Ahlul Bait Association (IJABI), has sent letters to
the West Java Police, the West Java governor and the commander of the Siliwangi
Regional Military Command to protest the alliances declaration.

We do not object to the activity but to the statement of hatred, IJABI chairman Hesti
Rahardja said.

In the past five years, the persecution of Shiites has increased, with the Syrian conflict
feared to be exacerbating the violence.

The National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) has announced that at least 70 Indonesians
have flown to Syria and joined rebel groups that are attempting to topple the regime of
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a Shiite reportedly backed by Shiite-majority Iran in his
attempts to remain in power. The BNPT has voiced its concern that if the Indonesian
combatants return home, they will act against Shiites in Indonesia.

Having the worlds largest Muslim population, Indonesia is estimated to be home to at least
3 million Shia followers, with West Java home to one of the highest concentrations of
Shiites.
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The anti-Shia declaration

1. The alliance is a preaching forum to promote virtues and prevent abominable acts.

2. The alliance will take any necessary measures to maximize the prevention of the
proliferation of heretical teachings by Shia followers.

3. The alliance will forge good relations with other preaching organizations.

4. The alliance will demand that the government immediately ban Shia and revoke all
licenses for foundations, organizations and institutions owned by Shiites.