'Dewa wants to show that they are proud Muslims'

Popular local rock group Dewa was reported to the police on Monday by a number of extremist Muslim groups, led by the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), for using the word "Allah" in Arabic script on the cover of its album Laskar Cinta (Soldier of Love). The extremists accuse Dewa of blasphemy and have demanded a public apology. The Jakarta Post interviewed residents here on Monday for their take on the issue.

Lucy Andriana, 28, is a housewife living in the Pantai Indah Kapuk housing estate in North Jakarta.

I don't think that Dewa has done committed blasphemy against God by putting the Arabic (Islamic) script on its record. As a fan of Dewa, I know that they are not against God, I actually think that some of their songs are pretty encouraging.

I guess perhaps Dewa was trying to praise God for making it possible for them to produce their album, which is a positive act. I see it as an act of praise and gratitude instead of blasphemy.

If they intended to do it (blasphemy) then they would have modified the signs, for example by burning it or writing songs that showed no respect to God.

It is a positive act and it is not against the religious law to write the name of Allah.

Mila Irawan, 25, is an administrative clerk at an international company in South Jakarta. She lives in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta.

What is the all the fuss about? It only shows FPI and others are treating Dewa as if they have done something bad. I think what they have done is okay because they did not humiliate or offend God or Islam in any way.

The symbol was not modified in any way. What's important is not the display of the image but the purpose behind it and I don't think that Dewa intended any blasphemy against God in any way by doing it.

I think that it is part of freedom of speech. We are a Muslim country and should be proud of it because it is a part of Dewa's religion and it is not destructive.

I think that Dewa was actually trying to show that they are proud to be Muslims and the album was there because of God.

The Jakarta Post