Jakarta police arrest two over Quran challenge with alcohol prize at music festival

Police in Jakarta have arrested two individuals in connection with a controversial Quran memorization challenge held at The Sounds Project music festival. The suspects, identified as REK, the Master of Ceremonies, and AK, the challenge creator, are accused of disrespecting religion and belief.

The incident involved a challenge where participants could memorize a verse from the Quran in exchange for a prize of alcoholic beverages, a promotion that quickly went viral on social media. The festival organizers, The Sounds Project, issued a statement expressing anger and disappointment, emphasizing that they do not condone using religion for challenges or product promotions.

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We have never, and will never, condone behavior that uses religion as material for challenges or product promotions in any form.

"We have never, and will never, condone behavior that uses religion as material for challenges or product promotions in any form," the organizers stated on their official Instagram account. They asserted that the event was entirely outside their direction, approval, and control.

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I acknowledge the lapse in controlling the situation and will make it a lesson to be more vigilant and responsible in the future.

The arrested MC, Revnaldo Ega, also known as REK, issued a public apology via Threads, admitting to a lapse in judgment in managing the situation. He stated the incident was a spontaneous action by the audience and not related to the Newport booth, where he was working. He vowed to be more vigilant and responsible in the future. The management of Newport also issued a statement regarding the incident.

Both REK and AK have been detained for 20 days at the Polda Metro Jaya detention center. Police are continuing their investigation into two other suspects involved in the case, identified as I, another challenge creator, and M, who recited the Quranic verse. The suspects are being charged under Article 300 and/or Article 301 of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code, as amended by Law Number 1 of 2026.

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RES and AK were arrested on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, after the case handling was transferred from the North Jakarta Metro Police. Both have been detained for 20 days at the Polda Metro Jaya detention center starting today.