FPI reports rock group Dewa to police for blasphemy

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Several Islamic organizations, led by well-known vigilante group the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), have reported popular rock band Dewa to the city police for alleged blasphemy over the use of the word Allah written in Arabic script on the cover of its Laskar Cinta (Soldier of Love) album.

They also expressed anger that the word also appeared on the floor of the stage during a recent Dewa concert aired by a television station in the capital.

FPI lawyer Ari Yusuf Amir said the complaint was a follow-up to a formal complaint made last week, which Dewa had apparently ignored.

"It was not our intention to file a complaint. But since Dewa has not desisted, we had to report the band to the police," said Ari, after filing the complaint at city police headquarters on Monday.

According to Ari, Dewa had violated Article 156 of the Criminal Code on blasphemy.

The organizations also submitted what they claimed to be evidence to the police, including recordings of Dewa's recent concert, and album covers.

Other organizations joining the FPI in reporting Dewa to the police included Tangerang's Mujahiddin Assembly, Jakarta's Islamic Defenders Paramilitary Force, the Jakarta Islamic Propagation Institute, the Indonesian-Chinese Islamic Association (PITI), and several Islamic boarding schools.

Besides reporting Dewa, they also reported PT Aquarius Musikindo (the record label) and PT Djarum as the sponsor of the Dewa concert that was broadcast on television.

PITI chairman Jayadi Mahmud Yunus said his organization had decided to become a party to the complaint as it was unacceptable to see the name of Allah on the stage floor so that it was walked on repeatedly by the band members.

No members of Dewa were available for comment on Monday.