The government's participation will demonstrate that Indonesia, with the biggest Muslim population in the world, has felt offended by French President Macron's intolerance towards Islam and MuslimsBogor, W Java (ANTARA) - Several hundred Muslims from the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) and 212 Alumni Brotherhood (PA 212) flocked to Thamrin Street in Central Jakarta on Monday to protest against French President Emmanuel Macron’s critique of Prophet Muhammad.
The demonstrators thronging the street, which is part of Jakarta's central business district area, demanded that Indonesia sever diplomatic ties with France while calling to expel French Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor Leste, Olivier Chambard, from the country.
The protestors also vociferous labelled President Macron as a terrorist in the world while simultaneously praising Abdullakh Anzorov, 18, whom they called a real hero since his actions were aimed at defending the honor of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Anzorov was the man, who beheaded Samuel Paty on Oct 16, 2020, after this history and geography teacher showed cartoons mocking Prophet Muhammad during a class on Oct 6, 2020.
Anzorov, who felt offended by Paty showing cartoons of Prophet Muhammad to students, was later shot dead by the French police.
During the peaceful rally, several ulemas were invited to speak to protesters from the stage of an FPI commanding truck.
They repeatedly led the demonstrators to recite "Shalatullah salamullah”, “Ala Thaha Rasulillah Shalatullah salamullah”, “Ala Yasin Habibillah” to echo their sincere adoration for Prophet Muhammad.
Led by the speakers, the demonstrators, who were predominantly dressed in Muslim attire, also launched a campaign to boycott French products in Indonesia.
Before commencing their anti-France rally, the Muslim protesters performed their zuhr (mid-day) prayer on Thamrin Street near Sarinah Mall, while the Jakarta city police secured the French embassy.
Macron's remarks following the beheading of Samuel Paty have sparked controversy and fueled a backlash from Muslims worldwide over the past few days.
The governments of Muslim-majority nations, including Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, and Malaysia, have condemned Macron's "anti-Islam" remarks and "Islamophobic" behavior.
The Indonesian government had also denounced French President Macron's remarks on Islam and support for portrayal and publication of cartoons on Prophet Muhammad.
To register its protest, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry summoned French Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor Leste, Olivier Chambard, on October 27, 2020, and sought an explanation for Macron's controversial statements.
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Meanwhile, Muslims at the grassroots level also voiced their fury and disappointment over Macron's defense of the right to reprint and depict caricatures of Prophet Muhammad by staging anti-France rallies and intensifying campaigns for boycotting French goods. Deputy Chairman of the Acehnese Ulema Consultative Assembly (MPU), Faisal Ali, also appealed to the Indonesian government to join the calls for boycotting French products in Indonesia.
"The government's participation will demonstrate that Indonesia, with the biggest Muslim population in the world, has felt offended by French President Macron's intolerance towards Islam and Muslims," he emphasized.
Indonesia's former House of Representatives (DPR) speaker, Fadli Zon, also joined calls to boycott French goods in response to President Macron's statements on Islam and support for depiction and publication of cartoons on Prophet Muhammad.
"President Macron's statements have hurt the sentiments of so many Muslims around the world," the lawmaker, representing the Great Indonesian Movement (Gerindra) Faction at the House, was quoted by ANTARA as saying on his Twitter account on Oct 29, 2020.
"(Macron is) an example of a leader from an Islamophobic, discriminative, and racist country, and therefore, let us boycott French products!" Zon asserted.
"France will not give up our cartoons," President Macron was quoted as saying by the BBC in response to Paty’s death as opposed to demonstrating goodwill to rectify his government's policy on Islam and Muslims in France.
Following his death, Paty was bestowed the Légion d'honneur, France's highest honor.
In the aftermath of his murder, cartoons depicting Prophet Muhammad, made by Charlie Hebdo, were projected onto public buildings.
In response to Macron's Islamophobic behavior and hostility towards Islam, the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) categorized Macron as a "kafir harbi", or infidel.
"Macron's decision to bestow Samuel Paty with the Légion d'honneur is obviously a crime against the teachings of Islam," the FPI central executive board disclosed in its letter dated October 24, 2020.
In the letter signed by FPI general chairman Ahmad Shabri Lubis and FPI secretary general Munarman, the Muslim-based organization also urged Muslim communities globally to rise from the oppressions of the "modern civilization of ignorance" that project Islam as an enemy.
Prior to the Paty case, French satirical weekly magazine Charlie Hebdo had frequently published cartoons on Prophet Muhammad that had triggered public ire in several Muslim-populated nations.
Two people had attacked the offices of the magazine on January 7, 2015, after Charlie Hebdo published cartoons on Prophet Muhammad while asserting that their publication was in accordance with the freedom of expression. At least 12 people were killed and 11 others were injured in the attack.
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Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
