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Muslim Lawyers Report Quran Recitation-for-Alcohol Challenge at Indonesian Concert
🇮🇩 Indonesia /Culture & Society

Muslim Lawyers Report Quran Recitation-for-Alcohol Challenge at Indonesian Concert

From CNN Indonesia · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • A group of Muslim lawyers has reported an incident at a music concert where participants reciting the Quran were offered alcoholic beverages.
  • The Association of Indonesian Muslim Lawyers (ALMI) considers the act religious blasphemy and demands a thorough police investigation.
  • Organizers of "The Sound Project" concert have condemned the sponsor's actions, stating they do not condone using religion as a basis for promotion.

A group of Indonesian Muslim lawyers has filed a report with the National Police's Criminal Investigation Unit (Bareskrim Polri) concerning a challenge at "The Sound Project" music concert where individuals reciting verses from the Quran were offered alcoholic beverages.

In our opinion, it clearly constitutes religious blasphemy. This is not a trivial matter, as the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and interfaith groups have also spoken out, condemning such actions.

— Zainul ArifinThe Chairman of ALMI explained the organization's stance on the incident at the concert.

The Association of Indonesian Muslim Lawyers (ALMI) lodged the complaint on Tuesday, with its chairman Zainul Arifin stating that the act constitutes religious blasphemy and is not merely entertainment. "In our opinion, it clearly constitutes religious blasphemy. This is not a trivial matter, as the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and interfaith groups have also spoken out, condemning such actions," Arifin told reporters.

ALMI urged the police to conduct a comprehensive investigation to prevent similar incidents in the future, suggesting that influential figures might be behind the event. "We know for sure there are big people behind this incident. We know that the people involved in this alcohol business cannot be small people. Therefore, we have come to oversee law enforcement," Arifin added.

We know for sure there are big people behind this incident. We know that the people involved in this alcohol business cannot be small people. Therefore, we have come to oversee law enforcement.

— Zainul ArifinArifin expressed his belief that influential figures were involved and urged for proper law enforcement.

Another ALMI member, Abdul Hakim, requested that the police summon all parties involved, including the event organizers, MC, and the sponsor booth that offered the alcohol. The incident gained attention after a video circulated online showing a woman successfully reciting Surat Ad-Dhuha at a sponsor's booth and being offered alcoholic products. The concert organizers, through their official social media, have issued a statement condemning the actions of the sponsor, Newport, emphasizing that they do not permit the use of religion for promotional purposes.

We want everyone involved in this context, whether it's the MC, the event organizer, and the owner of the alcohol brand, to be summoned by the investigators.

— Abdul HakimAn ALMI member called for a thorough investigation involving all parties.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CNN Indonesia in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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