FPI protests SCTV over 'Esmeralda'

FPI protests SCTV over 'Esmeralda'

JAKARTA (JP): A private television station has suspended
rerunning the popular Latin-American soap opera Esmeralda due to
protests from the Defenders of Islam (FPI), who have alleged the
show defames Islam.

FPI's chief of staff Reza Pahlevi said the series featured a
character named Fatimah, which also happened to be the name of
the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad.

Reza said the television series gave a false and misleading
impression to young viewers who were only just beginning to learn
Islamic history.

"One of my students in our Koran reading course even
remembered Fatimah in the TV series as a bad woman, instead of
the daughter of Prophet Muhammad who was a good woman," he told
The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

He claimed that a study conducted by FPI found that the
telenovela, which was aired every weekday morning, was a favorite
among housewives and children.

"We consider the program intentionally defames Islam. We think
that SCTV has made a mistake since the program was aired last
year without a study," he said. The series was broadcast by the
channel in its entirety last year.

Reza said FPI sent a protest letter to the station on May 2,
asking SCTV to stop broadcasting the Mexican telenovela.

He said about 60 members of FPI visited the station on May 4
to further press their demand.

"We still rejected the TV series although the station
management offered to change the name of Fatimah. They should
stop the telenovela," he said.

Reza threatened SCTV by saying FPI would come with a bigger
contingent if the station resumes the program.

SCTV suspended the program on Monday and replaced it with
Indonesian films. About 132 of the 150 episodes had been aired.

In its negotiations with FPI, the station offered to change
the name of Fatimah and tried to convince the group that Fatimah
changes her ways and become a good character by the end of the
series.

It also tried to tell the group Muslim cultures did not have a
monopoly over the name of Fatimah.

But, so far, FPI have rejected all SCTV's overtures. (jun)