Police Escort Mass Protest Against Alleged Blasphemy at OT Building in Cengkareng
Police deployed around 400 personnel to escort and secure a mass protest in front of the Orang Tua (OT) building in the Outer Ring Road area, Cengkareng, West Jakarta, on Friday (14/8). Officers maintained a tight guard at several points, particularly in front of the main entrance gate of the building.
Cengkareng Police Criminal Investigation Unit Head, AK Gultom Parman, confirmed the number of security personnel deployed to the location. “There are approximately 400 personnel to guard this protest,” Gultom said via text message in Jakarta on Friday.
Based on observations at the scene, joint officers were spread out to manage traffic flow, which experienced severe congestion due to the crowd’s activities. Vehicle density, ranging from motorcycles and cars to lorries, was observed crawling from one kilometre away from the protest point, including from the direction under the Rawa Buaya Flyover towards the Cengkareng area.
The protest was held by a crowd affiliated with the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) organisation. They voiced condemnation over the alleged desecration of the Qur’an linked to the “Newport” product belonging to the Orang Tua company at the “Sound Project” music festival some time ago.
At around 14.04 WIB, the crowd, predominantly men wearing koko shirts and peci caps, increasingly filled the road. They gathered around a white command vehicle that served as the centre for speeches to convey their demands to the company.
From atop the command vehicle, speakers took turns emphasising the importance of upholding religious honour in every public activity and commercial product. They demanded accountability for the alleged insult to the holy book.
“Do not let the Qur’an be judged or treated improperly. We must defend our holy book,” one speaker asserted using a loudspeaker amid the crowd.
Officers continued to maintain security and manage traffic to ensure the situation around the Outer Ring Road area remained conducive throughout the protest.