Police respond to student defacing female officer's headscarf during demonstration

Jakarta – The Jakarta Metro Police have responded to a student’s action of defacing a female police officer’s headscarf during a demonstration at National Police Headquarters on Friday, 27 February.

“The headscarf used by female police personnel is part of their uniform and serves as a covering for religious modesty, so it should not be used as a medium for provocative expression,” said Jakarta Metro Police Public Relations Head, Senior Police Commissioner Budi Hermanto, in a statement in Jakarta on Saturday.

He also appealed for demonstrations to be conducted in a more civilised manner, without actions that demean dignity or risk inflaming emotions in the field.

Budi emphasised that the Indonesian National Police (Polri) respects citizens’ right to express opinions, but reminded that such expression must remain orderly, respectful and ethical.

“Our personnel in the field serve demonstration activities in a humanitarian manner. However, the method of conveying aspirations must also maintain ethical standards and respect for others,” he stated.

Although during the event there was a student who verbally abused police members, even writing inappropriate text on the female officer’s headscarf.

“This is a lesson for all of us that patience can make situations safe, conducive, and manageable,” said Budi.

The Jakarta Metro Police deployed 3,992 personnel to secure the demonstration held in front of National Police Headquarters on Friday, 27 February.

“A total of 3,992 personnel were deployed, consisting of 3,093 from the Jakarta Metro Police and reinforced by personnel from subordinate regional police stations,” said Budi in his statement in Jakarta on Friday.

Previously, posts circulated on Instagram through the @bemui_official account announcing the demonstration at National Police Headquarters on Friday, 27 February.

In the post, the demonstration was stated to be related to the death of a 14-year-old Islamic school student with initials AT (14), allegedly killed by a Brimob member, scheduled to take place at 1:00 PM local time with the demonstration point at National Police Headquarters in South Jakarta.

In a video that also circulated, a female student wearing a yellow jacket can be seen taking the headscarf from one of the female police negotiators.

The student then wrote inappropriate text on the white cloth, and subsequently appeared to document the action by holding the cloth with the written words.