Overstay Status Uncovered After Foreign Woman Protests Quran Recitation Loudspeakers

A New Zealand woman identified by the initials ML has become the centre of public attention after she went on a rampage at a prayer hall on Gili Trawangan, North Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara, in protest over loudspeaker use. It has since emerged that ML had overstayed her permitted period of residence.

ML’s outburst was captured on video and went viral on social media. The incident occurred on the evening of Wednesday, 18 February 2026.

ML vandalised a microphone being used by local residents for tadarusan, the communal recitation of the Quran. She also seized a resident’s mobile phone that had been recording her actions.

Wielding Machetes

At around 00:30 local time, residents went to the villa to retrieve the confiscated phone. However, the situation escalated once more.

“We asked her staff to knock on the door. After about 10 minutes she finally came out, but she was threatening us with a machete. She said ‘what do you want’ whilst brandishing the blade,” said Muhammad Husni, the head of Gili Trawangan hamlet, as reported by detikBali on Thursday, 19 February 2026.

The woman was said to have been carrying two machetes and threatening residents. She also chased after the locals who had come to retrieve the phone.

“She used both machetes to threaten residents whilst running. She chased them, and naturally several people were frightened. All they wanted was to get back the phone she had taken,” Husni said.

Residents attempted to disarm her but were only able to secure one of the machetes.

ML Found to Have Overstayed

The Head of Criminal Investigation at North Lombok Police, AKP I Komang Wilandra, confirmed that the foreign woman had overstayed her visa. This came to light after ML was examined by immigration authorities.

“The individual has been taken to the immigration office for further investigation regarding her overstayed residence permit,” Wilandra said in a statement reported by Antara on Sunday, 22 February 2026.

When police provided a security escort, ML initially refused to meet the delegation, but through a tactful approach she eventually agreed to meet the team on the condition that the number of people present was limited.

To immigration officials, ML admitted that she had protested the activities at the prayer hall because she felt disturbed by the loudspeakers used for tadarusan. She considered the noise disruptive to her rest during the night.

Officers then explained the nature of local community activities, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan. Tadarusan is a routine act of worship for Muslims. They urged ML to show understanding towards these activities.