Woman Steps on Quran in Lebak to Swear Over Makeup and Perfume Dispute
A video recording of a woman stepping on the Quran during a swearing-in act in Lebak, Banten, went viral on social media last week. Local police have intervened to handle the case. From preliminary examinations, the police revealed that the act of swearing by stepping on the Al-Quran, carried out by two women in Lebak, stemmed from an issue involving makeup and perfume.
In this case, police suspect that the two women, NR and MT, residents of Sukaraja Village, Malingping Subdistrict, Lebak Regency, have committed blasphemy against religion. The police stated that the act occurred on Wednesday (8/4).
The Head of Public Relations at Lebak Police Resort, IPTU Moestafa Ibnu Syafir, said the case was triggered by an issue with makeup supplies in the form of powder and perfume, which NR ordered online. NR then accused MT of taking her makeup.
“So, they were actually friends; the salon owner ordered a package and it was stored there. The owner accused MT, and since she was not satisfied with the admission, she carried out a Quran oath,” he explained to reporters on Saturday (11/4), as quoted from detik.com.
Based on the results of the examination conducted by the Lebak Police Resort Criminal Investigation Unit, both have been officially designated as suspects and detained. They are charged under the blasphemy article.
“They have been designated as suspects. Yes, they were immediately detained,” Moestafa said.
Moestafa stated that the two suspects consciously stepped on the Al-Quran. Moreover, the way they conducted the Quran oath did not comply with the provisions.
“The way of the Quran oath is also not like that, and what aggravates it is that the holy book Al-Quran, for an oath, should be above the head, not under the feet,” he said.
“They intentionally committed blasphemy against religion. The motive is clear because they know the Al-Quran is a holy book, unless they are not Muslim,” he added.
Moestafa advised that if there is a dispute over alleged theft, it is better to report it to the police so that such incidents do not recur.
“The one who ordered and the one who was ordered are both wrong; just pursue it through legal channels,” he said.
Regarding this incident, he urged the public to remain calm and not be provoked. He affirmed that Lebak Police Resort has handled the case quickly and transparently.
Meanwhile, MT, quoted from a 20detik news video, claimed she had no intention of stepping on the open Quran while swearing. She alleged that she did it because she was forced and pressured by those accusing her of theft.
“I did not intend to step on the Quran; it was due to pressure and coercion from those people. If I didn’t step on it, I would be considered a thief. I was just defending myself, I didn’t know it would turn out like this,” she said in the video recording.
Response from Islamic organisations and the DPR
In response to the incident in Lebak, PBNU invited all Muslims to maintain proper conduct, especially when dealing with the holy book Al-Quran. PBNU deemed the act by the two women as despicable.
“Yes, forcing someone to swear by stepping on the Al-Quran is a despicable act and not justified in Islam,” said PBNU Chairman KH Ahmad Fahrur Rozi or Gus Fahrur to reporters on Monday (13/4).
In Islamic teachings, Gus Fahrur said, the Al-Quran is the word of Allah that must be protected in honour and nobility. Thus, acts that demean religious symbols constitute blasphemy against religion.
“All forms of actions that demean, insult, or use it as a tool of pressure (for example, to force confessions) are forbidden acts and can fall into the category of desecration of the sanctity of religion,” he stated.
Gus Fahrur said the Al-Quran is not a tool for emotional or coercive proof of oaths, let alone being stepped on or demeaned. In Islam, he said, oaths have their own rules and ethics. If necessary, they should be done in the correct manner, with full responsibility, and without demeaning the sanctity of the Al-Quran.
According to him, using the Al-Quran as a tool of pressure can instead cause slander, division, and damage its sacred value.
Separately, Chairman of PP Muhammadiyah Dadang Kahmad viewed the case as a form of ignorance among Muslims in handling the holy book.
“In my opinion, this case illustrates that many Muslims do not know how to treat or what is prohibited regarding the Al-Quran,” Dadang said to reporters on Monday (13/4).
Dadang assessed that the two women lacked sufficient religious knowledge, thus posing a challenge for religious leaders to educate the community.
“Looking at their images, there is an impression that they indeed lack religious knowledge. This is a challenge for religious figures to provide information about religion evenly to all levels of society,” he added.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman of Commission VIII of the Indonesian DPR, Singgih Januratmoko, urged that the perpetrators be dealt with firmly. Additionally, he emphasised the importance of strengthening religious education and understanding of tolerance values so that similar incidents do not recur in the future.
“This incident is very concerning because it involves the sanctity of religious teachings. We urge law enforcement officials to act firmly, professionally, and transparently so that justice can be upheld,” Singgih said to reporters on Sunday (11/4).
“We need to strengthen mental and religious guidance in society, so that issues, no matter how small, are not resolved in ways that violate norms and laws,” he continued.
Swearing while stepping on a book containing the revelations of Allah SWT had previously been done by a Civil Servant (ASN) in Kepahiang, Bengkulu, last year. At that time, a viral video showed an ASN at the Kepahiang Subdistrict Office swearing about her loyalty to her lover while stepping on a book containing the word of Allah, which she claimed was a Yasin book.
For her actions, on 10 November 2025, the Kepahiang Regency Government dismissed her for violating the code of ethics and serious discipline. The woman also had to deal with the police.