PAN Faction Condemns Alcohol Promotion Using Quran Memorisation

The National Mandate Party (PAN) faction has condemned a promotional action for alcoholic beverages that used the memorisation of Quranic verses as part of a prize challenge at a music festival. The condemnation was voiced by House of Representatives member Verrell Bramasta following a viral video showing a booth for an alcoholic beverage brand holding a challenge to recite Surah Ad-Dhuha. In the video circulating on social media, visitors who could recite Surah Ad-Dhuha were said to receive a prize, allegedly an alcoholic drink. The action drew widespread criticism for turning a holy Quranic verse into a promotional gimmick for alcohol products. The incident reportedly took place during The Sounds Project music festival in Ancol, Jakarta, on Sunday (9/8/2026). A booth belonging to sponsor Newport, an alcoholic beverage brand, came under scrutiny after the video spread widely on social media. The organisers of The Sounds Project later apologised and condemned the incident at the sponsor’s booth. Verrell assessed that using Quranic verses for alcohol promotion was inappropriate and could offend religious sensitivities. ‘This has gone too far. The Quran is a holy book that must be respected, not used as a gimmick or promotional tool to sell alcoholic beverages,’ stressed Verrell, who also serves on House Commission X, on Tuesday (11/8/2026). He stated that freedom in promotion must still observe religious norms, ethics, and the values upheld in Indonesian society, especially when conducted in public spaces and potentially witnessed by people from various backgrounds. He urged the responsible parties to provide a public clarification and take concrete steps to prevent similar incidents from recurring. ‘Commercial interests must not be pursued by playing with religious symbols and holy verses. This must be taken seriously,’ he said. The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) had previously also strongly condemned the alcohol promotion using a Quran memorisation challenge. MUI Fatwa Division Head Prof KH Asrorun Niam Sholeh stated that using Quranic verses as a promotional gimmick for alcohol was unjustifiable. MUI asserted that the action demeaned the sanctity of the Quran and contravened religious, ethical, and legal principles. MUI emphasised that the Quran is a holy scripture with an exalted status for Muslims, and its use in commercial activities, especially to promote alcoholic beverages, is entirely improper. The controversy has garnered widespread attention on social media. In addition to public outrage, the festival organiser expressed disappointment over the incident and issued an apology. The PAN faction is urging law enforcement and relevant institutions to follow up on the matter in accordance with applicable regulations. ‘Public spaces must be safeguarded. We want Indonesia to be a country that upholds tolerance while respecting the sanctity of every religion’s teachings,’ Verrell said. He added that the case should serve as a lesson for the entertainment and advertising industries to be more cautious in creating promotional materials, particularly when involving religious symbols, teachings, and scriptures.