Ahmadiyah cancels planned congress in Bali

"The congress which was initially scheduled to last two days was shortened to two hours," Syamsir Ali, a spokesman of Ahmadiyah Indonesia said here on Saturday.

Ahmadiyah members from all over Indonesia came to Bali for the congress. However, the Bali Police had told them to cancel the congress.

"Because of the (police`s) call, we have cut short the congress` duration from two days to two hours ," he said.

The two-hour meeting was held behind closed doors, he said.

Bali Police Chief Inspector General Paulus Purwoko earlier said the provincial police had never issued a permit to Ahmadiyah to organize a congress on the island.

The police have put Ahmadiyah as a sect which is under police`s supervision.

Meanwhile, the National Police Headquarters recently ordered the force`s rank and file to protect the activities and houses of worship of the Jamaah Ahmadiyah sect from acts of violence by any other group in society.

"The protection is meant ...