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FPI pressures Honda outlet to issue clarification on Santa hat rumor
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Tone it down: Two employees chat in a clothing store at the Bandung Indah Plaza shopping center in Bandung, West Java, on Wednesday. Bandung Mayor Ridwan Kamil has issued a circular calling on companies not to force non-Christian employees to wear Christmas attributes. (JP/Arya Dipa)
U
nder pressure from the Bekasi branch of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), the Honda Mitra outlet on Jl. Raya Jati Asih, Bekasi, issued a statement on Dec.14 asserting that none of its employees were being forced to wear Christmas attributes.
The incident was preceded by a rumor spread widely online that Honda Mitra was forcing its Muslim employees, including female staff members who wear the hijab, to wear Santa Claus hats.
(Read also: FPI barges into an apartment, forcing police to arrest several men)
According to the rumor, management would fine employees Rp 200,000 (US$15) per day should they refuse to wear a Santa Claus hat.
In a joint statement by Honda Mitra and the FPI delivered on Wednesday afternoon, company service manager Andri Suherman said that the management would not force its employees to wear Christmas attributes.
"If the incident is repeated in the future, I will be ready to face legal consequences," Andri said, as written in the statement.
Bekasi precinct police stations head Sr. Comr. Umar Fana said that police, together with some Muslim organizations, had met with office management on Wednesday morning to clear up the issue.
The police said that the information spread online was not true.
"Both the management and employees stated that no employees were being forced to wear Christmas attributes," Umar told The Jakarta Post on Friday.
Umar added that he issued a recommendation on Thursday for companies in Bekasi to also not force their non-Muslim employees to wear Christmas or New Year attributes. (jun)
