DDHK News, Czech - The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) in Prague strongly protested to representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and asked the Czech Government for an official explanation regarding the raids on Friday prayers at the Czech Mosque on April 25, 2014.
Secretary III Information & Spokesperson for the Indonesian Embassy in Prague, Fitri Riduan, Thursday (1/5), said that the organized crime police unit (UUOZ) carried out raids on two places of worship, when Prague Muslims started Friday prayers at Centrum and Cerny Most.
According to official information from the Czech Police, the raids were based on suspicion of publication and distribution of books containing racism, anti-Semitism, xenophobia and violence against inferior racial groups.
As many as nine out of ten Indonesian citizens who are currently in a place of worship in the centrum are the staff of the Indonesian Embassy in Prague and their families. Five of them have diplomatic status and are a student.
Those with diplomatic status, including a diplomat at the Indonesian Embassy in Prague, are allowed to return home after showing a diplomatic identity card. They were released after being detained for an hour and a half.
At around 16.00 local time, continued Fitri Riduan, all Indonesian citizens were allowed to return home after the Indonesian Embassy in Prague continued to negotiate with the police in the field.
The Indonesian Embassy in Prague also asked the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs for help, the Chief of Police for the Protection of Foreign Embassies, and the Chief of Police for the Handling of Foreigners.
None of the Indonesian citizens were taken into custody and interrogated by the Czech police. The Indonesian Embassy in Prague continues to coordinate closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Jakarta. (AMONG)
