Jakarta, Indonesia - The Indonesian police would secure the safety of the members of the recently banned sect of Ahmadiyah, Police chief General Sutanto said here Wednesday.
Sutanto told reporters that it is the police duty to ensure the safety and security of all citizens.
Last week, the Indonesia's top Islamic authority body of Ulema Council (MUI) and Attorney General Office outlawed the sect, which has over 200,000 followers across the country, for its deviation from Islam.
Concerns over a massive violation against the followers of the faith have appeared, as in some areas Muslims started to vandalize the facilities and personnel of the sect, such as in West Java province.
"Even terrorist suspect we protect them, let alone good people," Sutanto said.
The Ahmadi movement has faced bans and persecution in Muslim countries around the globe for its belief in another prophet after Muhammad. The sect insists it should be considered part of Islam.
The movement was founded at the end of the 19th century in Pakistan where it is banned.
Indonesia is the biggest Muslim country with 240 million Muslims, which most of them are moderate.