As many as 200,000 demonstrators are expected to gather at the National Monument (Monas) complex in Central Jakarta to hold sermons, Friday prayers, and dzikir (mass chants to praise God) to demand the arrest of incumbent Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama over alleged blasphemy.

The National Police have announced traffic rerouting to address potential gridlock. Traffic on Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat, which is the main access road to the monument compound, will be rerouted to nearby streets.

The Confederation of Indonesian Workers Unions (KSPI) has claimed that around 50,000 workers will hold a rally to demand that the government scrap Government Regulation No. 78/2015 on wages issued by Ahok. The rally will commence at City Hall at 10 a.m. Protesters will then march to the State Palace, where they are expected to continue rallying until the evening.

The groups, which also demanded Ahok’s arrest, ignored requests by the police to postpone the rally.

KSPI spokesperson Kahar Cahyono said the Islamic groups and labor unions shared the common interest of promoting the implementation of principles of justice and fairness, including in Ahok’s case.

As many as 22,000 joint personnel from the police and the Indonesian Military (TNI) are set to secure the rally.

Several transportation companies said they would operate normally on Friday, although adjustments may be made depending on rally conditions.

In spite of growing concern over the planned mass prayers, with a number of foreign governments having issued warnings to their citizens, airfares and commuter numbers leaving Jakarta have not shown a sudden spike, according to industry representatives.

Garuda Indonesia’s vice president of corporate communications, Benny S. Butarbutar, said there had not been a sudden increase in passenger numbers.

Yuline, a spokeswoman from Batemuri Tours and Travel, echoed Benny’s statement. She said there had not been an unexpected rise in airline ticket purchases out of the capital. “Neither has there been a sudden increase in airline ticket fares,” Yuline said.

A number of countries, including the United States, Japan and Australia, have issued advisories highlighting the possibility of Friday’s protest turning violent or the risk of extremists staging an attack.

In a bid to prevent provocation over the internet, the Communications and Information Ministry has blocked a website run by Islam Defenders Front (FPI) founder Rizieq Shihab. The website, habibrizieq.com, is accused of spreading hatred based on issues of ethnicity, religion and race .

Friday’s rally will be the third protest initiated nationwide by various Islamic groups, which demand that the government, through the police, arrest Ahok for alleged blasphemy after making controversial remarks referring to a Quranic verse in late September.

More than 100,000 protesters staged a rally near Monas on Nov. 4 to demand the prosecution of Ahok. The rally ended in a clash between dozens of protesters and police officers.

In Yogyakarta, around 250 Muhammadiyah followers departed to Jakarta to take part in the rally, ignoring Muhammadiyah’s recommendation to not take part in the movement.

— Bambang Muryanto, Syamsul Huda M. Suhari and Andi Hajramurni contributed to this report from Yogyakarta, Gorontalo and Makassar.

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How the rally should be carried out based on agreement between National Police and organizers

1. The rally is to be held in the National Monument square from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Activities outside the area will be sternly dispersed.

2. The rally should only include preaching, Quran recital and Friday prayer.

3. The police will direct protesters into and out of the square.

4. Other rallies conducted outside the square will be considered illegal.

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