Forced Conversion? Minority Muslim Sect 'Millata Abraham' Followers Convert En Masse

There is no religious compulsion in Islam, or so they say, and yet people who do not conform to mainstream Islam are often jailed or forced to convert in Muslim-majority countries. Indonesia, as moderate as it would like to consider itself, still persecutes and discriminates against those who deviate from the mainstream religion. Minority sects like the Ahmadis are not allowed to practice their faith, and in Bogor 33 found it easier to convert than to continue being targets of violence, persecution and death. And so it was with another sect, the Millata Abraham Muslims, considered a "deviant cult", who became victims of a region-wide ban that included 13 other minority religious groups.

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In the beginning of April, the governor of Banda Aceh, Irwandi Yusuf, issued a ban against practicing their faith, and anyone caught would be subject to jail time up to 5 years. After the official fatwa became news, thousands of religious conservatives started demonstrating in the streets with the usual "insulting Islam" diatribe, demanding an end to the group.

The leader of Millata Abraham, Zainuddin, was immediately jailed, but after twenty-plus days in prison (and facing a potential 5-year jail term) he suddenly claimed he had an epiphany and decided to convert to mainstream Islam. “After 23 nights in detention, I prayed continuously in the correct Islamic way. I then realized that all this time what I had done was wrong. I asked Allah’s forgiveness for this. I also ask all the officials and people of Aceh to forgive us for this.”

Even though he claims he was not forced to convert, it's quite obvious 5 years in jail wasn't worth the fight. So Zainuddin and 139 fellow devotees converted, en masse, at the Baiturrahman Raya Mosque, in front of none other than Governor Yusuf, the police chief and other spectators, all delighted, I'm sure, that these deviants were finally seeing the light. And officials can now keep tabs on the recent converts since they were all photographed and any personal information pertaining to the individuals was recorded.

Unlike the majority of Muslims, Millata Abraham followers apparently pray only at midnight, rather than the requisite five times per day, and don't recognize Mohammed as prophet. So, yes, they might not be considered Muslims by some, but to ban the group and threaten to jail them is shameful. In the West there are many minority sects and religious groups, which might not be accepted by the mainstream religions, but they are tolerated by all, which is as it should be in a world without religious compulsion.

Sources: Jakarta Times, Ahmadiyya Times