Head of MUI Papua Province, Hajj Saiful Islam Al Payage – Jubi
Jayapura, Jubi – The Council of Indonesian Ulama (MUI) in Papua Province said religious tolerance remained strong in Papua despite the rioting that left a mosque burned on Friday (17/7) at Karubaga, Tolikara Regency.
“The incident at Tolikara Regency was an isolated case,” the head of the local MUI, Hajj Saiful Islam Al Payage, told reporters in Kotaraja, Jayapura City on Saturday (18/7/2015).
He urged Muslims from outside of Papua not to be provoked and warned against mobilizing to commit violence in the name of ‘jihad’ amid resentment on social media. “Muslims no need to bring another dispute,” he firmly said.
He further said currently the authorities have taken the process of settlement by investigating and prosecuting the offenders who should be sentenced for their crime.
Cenderawasih XVII Regional Military Commander Major General Fransen Siahaan and Papua Police Chief Inspector General Yotje Mende who visited the scene stated it’s not true the mushola (little mosque) was deliberately burned in the incident. They promised to enforce the law in handling the case.
“Military Commander is promptly prepared and integrated to support law enforcement by firstly seeking the accurate data. The fact about mushola was being burned is not true,” the Commander stated in Military Official Release to Jubi on Saturday (18/7/2015) after his visit on location. (Mawel Benny/rom)
