Police Wear Kopiah and Scarves to Escort Student Demonstration at National Police Headquarters
JAKARTA — Hundreds of police officers escorting a student demonstration in front of the National Police Headquarters (Mabes Polri) wore white scarves and kopiah (traditional Islamic headwear) on Friday, 27 February 2026.
Male officers draped the sorban across their shoulders, whilst female officers wore it as a headcover or hijab.
This became a target of mockery from the demonstrators, who arrived wearing yellow college blazers.
“They think that by wearing this they can soften our hearts, comrades!” shouted an orator from a command vehicle.
“Metro Jaya Police has a shalawat team. So there is a hadrah team, a shalawat team. We are honouring the holy month of Ramadan with the use of peci, scarves, and for female officers wearing a white hijab,” explained a police spokesperson named Budi to journalists after the crowd dispersed.
The security operation was conducted in a humane and persuasive manner, given that the demonstration took place during Ramadan.
“We are encouraging that what was conveyed earlier, aspirational activities, expression of grievances especially in this holy month, should respect norms and ethics,” Budi added.
He highlighted the demonstrators’ conduct of shouting at police officers while expressing their aspirations.
However, Budi also expressed relief that the crowd dispersed in an orderly manner without damaging public facilities.
“Although during the activity we saw some student demonstrators also insulted police members, and even wrote inappropriate messages on female officers’ scarves,” he said.
Demonstration participants called for heavy penalties against perpetrators. They also demanded that the National Police Chief and the Maluku Regional Police Chief be removed from their positions as a form of accountability.
The crowd also demanded that police be given limits regarding appointment to strategic positions in the civil space, and called for results of police reform. Additionally, demonstrators demanded the release of political detainees arrested during the late August 2025 demonstration.