Student Protest at National Police Headquarters; Officers Respond with Islamic Prayers
JAKARTA – Students held a demonstration in front of the National Police (Polri) headquarters in the Kebayoran Lama area, South Jakarta, on Friday afternoon, 27 February 2026. The action took place under tight police supervision, with officers lined up facing the crowd.
Dozens of police officers stood in rows facing the demonstrators. The two groups were separated by a road median planted with flowers.
Several male police officers wore sorban and white kopiah headwear. Female officers wore sorban as head covering.
“Ordinary people are being oppressed; police should protect us,” said one protester addressing the officers.
Police officers on duty appeared to provide no verbal response and maintained blank expressions.
Demonstrators also called for a meeting with Police Chief Brigadier General Listyo Sigit Prabowo.
The protesters’ shouts and statements were countered by police officers who chanted Islamic prayers.
“Come on everyone. May Allah’s prayers and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad. May Allah’s prayers and peace be upon Prophet Yasin, the Beloved,” the officers chanted.
This approach was related to directives from Metro Jaya Police Commander Irjen Asep Edi Suheri, who urged his officers not to be provoked by the demonstrators’ emotions.
“Do not be easily provoked, maintain your lines, maintain your formation. Ensure your actions remain disciplined and measured. During this holy month of Ramadan, we serve the community with Islamic prayers,” Suheri said during a briefing before the security operation began.
Demonstrators demanded that those responsible be given severe punishment. They also called for the National Police Chief and Maluku Regional Police Commander to be removed from their positions as accountability. The crowd also pressed for police to be restricted from occupying strategic positions in the civilian sphere and demanded comprehensive police reform. Finally, demonstrators demanded the release of political detainees arrested during protests in late August 2025.
Throughout the demonstration, police remained on site maintaining disciplined security formations.