Meulaboh, Aceh Province (ANTARA News) - Civil service police in Aceh Barat district, Aceh Province arrested three Muslims who did not fast on Sunday.

Aceh civil service police spokesman Jhon Aswir said here on Sunday that the three people, identified by their initials as KN, ML, and HD were arrested when they were having lunch in a restaurant.

"We have to arrest them because they do not respect other Muslims who are fasting," Jhon said.

Meanwhile, Bengkulu Mayor Ahmad Kanedi said in Bengkulu province recently that Muslim civil servants who were not fasting would be dismissed from their jobs.

"All Muslim civil servants who are found having lunch at public places such as restaurants during the fasting month will face the strongest possible sanction of dismissal from their jobs," Ahmad Kanedi said in Bengkulu early last Monday.

He explained that Muslim civil servants found not fasting, the dismissal penalty would be imposed on him or her on the spot with no strings attached.

"Before the start of Ramadhan I have gathered all civil servants

in the whole range of Bengkulu city government and announced the sanction of dismissal for Muslims who are not fasting," Ahmad said.

He said that at the gathering the Muslim civil servants took oath and said they were ready to be fired from their jobs if they were found eating at restaurants during the fasting month.

"To enforce discipline during Ramadhan holy month and respect Muslims who are fasting, Bengkulu city`s civil service police will be mobilized to raid the public places in the city," the mayor said.

Ahmad also called on the people to play an active role in helping Bengkulu city government uphold discipline during the fasting month.

"I will give Rp1 million to anyone who is able to find a Muslim civil servant eating at public places such as restaurants, market places, or bust terminals," Ahmad said. (*)

Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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