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Anti-Ahok protesters flock FPI headquarters
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Donning white caps and scarves, hundreds of personnel from the National Police prepare themselves for Friday's mass rally at the National Monument square on Nov. 2. (Antara Photo/Rivan Awal Lingga)
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ore than 200 people have already gathered at the headquarters of the hardline group the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) in Petamburan, West Jakarta, for Friday's mass rally to demand that incumbent Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama be charged for his allegedly blasphemous remarks.
Wearing caps and white T-shirts or white attire, the protesters, who came from various cities, planned to spend the night at Al Islah Mosque, located a few meters away from the FPI's headquarters. The organization, which is among the protest's initiators, distributed boxes of rice, mineral water and oranges to the protesters gathered at the mosque.
Ridho, one of the protesters, said he arrived in the capital from Bogor, West Java, in the morning. The FPI headquarters, he said, was previously not his destination and he and several other people coming from Bogor had planned to sleep at the Istiqlal Grand Mosque in Central Jakarta.
"However, we were not allowed to sleep at the mosque so here we are now," he told The Jakarta Post. "We will start the rally in the morning early tomorrow."
FPI official Rizieq Syihab had asked Jakarta mosque caretakers to open their doors to protesters who were going take part in the rally.
Around 50,000 people from various cities are expected to swarm the capital on Friday for the rally. (dmr)
