Lombok Muslim group to ask for asylum in Australia

Members of the Ahmadiyah Muslim sect are having a hard time in Lombok these days. We live in a world where people are not happy believing in what they believe in. Many people feel the need to force others to ‘believe’ in the same ideas. Indonesia is a shining example of this and the subject of religion is a sure fire way to find differences of belief.

Indonesia’s major religion is Islam and the Ahmadiyah have fallen foul of other Muslims, because of their beliefs. There are aparently 90 million Ahmadiyya Muslims in the world, and their views on Jesus Christ, the Prophet Muhammad, as well as their own founder, whom they regard as the Messiah, have placed them at odds with the rest of the Muslim world. The most serious point is that this cult does not recognise the finality of the Prophet Muhammad as the last and final messenger.

Ahmadiyya Muslims believe that Ghulam Ahmed, who founded the sect in 1889, was the fulfilment of the messianic expectations of Christianity, Judaism, Islam and other religions. In other words, they believe that this was the Second Coming of Christ. They believe that Jesus survived the Crucifixion and that His tomb can be found in Kashmir.

Reprsentatives of the sect met the Australian Consul in Bali on Monday. In all 187 members could potentially be requesting asylum. Samsir Ali, an adviser to sect members on the neighbouring island of Lombok, cited a local decree outlawing the group. “Because in our country alone, it is not secure and we don’t have legal protection, there is no other way,” Ali told reporters after his meeting.

Ali said that 187 members in Lombok could seek asylum.

“The West Lombok government has interfered in our faith and way of life,” he added.