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Jakarta Police to crack down groups sweeping Christmas accessories
Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Mochamad Iriawan reiterated on Thursday that he would not hesitate to crack down on any group conducting raids or spreading fatwa (religious edicts) banning Christmas accessories.
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Two employees chat in a clothing store at Bandung Indah Plaza shopping center in Bandung, West Java, on Wednesday. Bandung Mayor Ridwan Kamil has issued a statement that companies should not force non-Christian employees to wear Christmas attributes. (JP/Arya Dipa)
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akarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Mochamad Iriawan reiterated on Thursday that he would not hesitate to crack down on any group conducting raids or spreading fatwa (religious edicts) banning Christmas accessories.
“Do not try to carry out a raid, I will surely catch you!” Iriawan said at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Cengkareng, Banten, as quoted by Kompas.com.
Iriawan made the statement in response to raids conducted by some hard-line Islamic organizations, including the Islamic Defender's Front (FPI), in public places and malls to spread the Indonesian Ulema Council’s (MUI) edict forbidding Muslims from wearing Christmas attire, such as a Santa hat.
The police chief said people should respect each other’s beliefs to create peace not just in Jakarta but also all over the country.
Previously on Sunday, some FPI members in Surabaya, East Java, held raids in shopping malls to publicize the MUI’s edict and check whether outlets had ordered employees to wear Christmas attire. About 200 police officers, led by Surabaya police chief Sr. Comr. M Iqbal, were deployed to escort the group while conducting their raid.
National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian previously said he would arrest anyone conducting raids with violence. (saf/jun)
