{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1912879,
        "msgid": "pan-faction-condemns-alcohol-promotion-using-quran-memorisation-1786445645",
        "date": "2026-08-11 17:30:21",
        "title": "PAN Faction Condemns Alcohol Promotion Using Quran Memorisation",
        "author": "Fitriyan Zamzami",
        "source": "REPUBLIKA",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Social Policy",
        "summary": "The National Mandate Party (PAN) faction in Indonesia's parliament has strongly condemned a promotional stunt at a music festival that challenged attendees to recite a Quranic verse in exchange for alcohol. The incident, which occurred at The Sounds Project in Jakarta, has been widely criticised for disrespecting religious sanctity and exploiting Islamic scripture for commercial gain. Lawmakers and the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) have called for accountability and urged authorities to take action against such violations of public ethics.",
        "content": "<p>The National Mandate Party (PAN) faction has condemned a promotional\naction for alcoholic beverages that used the memorisation of Quranic\nverses as part of a prize challenge at a music festival. The\ncondemnation was voiced by House of Representatives member Verrell\nBramasta following a viral video showing a booth for an alcoholic\nbeverage brand holding a challenge to recite Surah Ad-Dhuha. In the\nvideo circulating on social media, visitors who could recite Surah\nAd-Dhuha were said to receive a prize, allegedly an alcoholic drink. The\naction drew widespread criticism for turning a holy Quranic verse into a\npromotional gimmick for alcohol products. The incident reportedly took\nplace during The Sounds Project music festival in Ancol, Jakarta, on\nSunday (9\/8\/2026). A booth belonging to sponsor Newport, an alcoholic\nbeverage brand, came under scrutiny after the video spread widely on\nsocial media. The organisers of The Sounds Project later apologised and\ncondemned the incident at the sponsor\u2019s booth. Verrell assessed that\nusing Quranic verses for alcohol promotion was inappropriate and could\noffend religious sensitivities. \u2018This has gone too far. The Quran is a\nholy book that must be respected, not used as a gimmick or promotional\ntool to sell alcoholic beverages,\u2019 stressed Verrell, who also serves on\nHouse Commission X, on Tuesday (11\/8\/2026). He stated that freedom in\npromotion must still observe religious norms, ethics, and the values\nupheld in Indonesian society, especially when conducted in public spaces\nand potentially witnessed by people from various backgrounds. He urged\nthe responsible parties to provide a public clarification and take\nconcrete steps to prevent similar incidents from recurring. \u2018Commercial\ninterests must not be pursued by playing with religious symbols and holy\nverses. This must be taken seriously,\u2019 he said. The Indonesian Ulema\nCouncil (MUI) had previously also strongly condemned the alcohol\npromotion using a Quran memorisation challenge. MUI Fatwa Division Head\nProf KH Asrorun Niam Sholeh stated that using Quranic verses as a\npromotional gimmick for alcohol was unjustifiable. MUI asserted that the\naction demeaned the sanctity of the Quran and contravened religious,\nethical, and legal principles. MUI emphasised that the Quran is a holy\nscripture with an exalted status for Muslims, and its use in commercial\nactivities, especially to promote alcoholic beverages, is entirely\nimproper. The controversy has garnered widespread attention on social\nmedia. In addition to public outrage, the festival organiser expressed\ndisappointment over the incident and issued an apology. The PAN faction\nis urging law enforcement and relevant institutions to follow up on the\nmatter in accordance with applicable regulations. \u2018Public spaces must be\nsafeguarded. We want Indonesia to be a country that upholds tolerance\nwhile respecting the sanctity of every religion\u2019s teachings,\u2019 Verrell\nsaid. He added that the case should serve as a lesson for the\nentertainment and advertising industries to be more cautious in creating\npromotional materials, particularly when involving religious symbols,\nteachings, and scriptures.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pan-faction-condemns-alcohol-promotion-using-quran-memorisation-1786445645",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}