Jakarta - Indonesian police named the female leader of a
controversial cult as a suspect for religious blasphemy Tuesday, an
offence punishable by up to five years in prison.
Lia Aminuddin, the leader of the 'Kingdom of Eden,' was brought to
the Jakarta city police headquarters on Monday for distributing
anti-religious leaflets urging the disbanding of all religions,
including Islam.
Police also took 23 other people, including 11 children, to the
Jakarta police headquarters for questioning, the Suara Pembaruan
daily reported.
Muhammad Iriawan, director of general crime at Jakarta city
police, was quoted as saying that Lia and her close aide Wahyu Andito
Putro Wibisono had been named suspects following interrogation.
Police said thousands of leaflets had been distributed across
Indonesia, the world's most-populous Muslim nation.
One of the leaflets contained a letter allegedly signed by the
Biblical Archangel Gabriel, that said, 'I am a God whom you should
obey. I have declared an edict to disband Islam as well as other
religions.'
Lia could be charged with religious blasphemy, punishable with up
to five years in prison. In 2006, she was jailed two years after a
conviction on similar charges.
Muslim leaders and lawmakers welcomed the arrest of Lia and her
followers, demanding severe punishment and arguing that she provoked
reckless behaviour.
The Eden community was formed in the late 1990s. They believe that
Lia is the Messiah, chosen by the Archangel Gabriel, who often
communicates with her, including telling her to eradicate Islam
and blend all religions together.
In 1997, the Indonesian Ulema Council, the country's highest
authority on Islam, issued an edict banning the community from
teaching misleading religious lessons taken from Islam.
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