Indonesian Islamists threaten crackdown on Santa hats

Published Dec 21, 2017

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Jakarta - Indonesian police appealed on

Thursday for tolerance and respect for other people's religious

celebrations after an Islamist group threatened to raid

businesses to check for Muslims being forced to wear Santa Claus

hats or other Christmas garb.

The hardline Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) said this week it

would conduct "sweeping operations" in the world's biggest

Muslim-majority country, and that forcing Muslims to wear

Christmas attire was a violation of their human rights.

Indonesia is home to several religious minorities, including

Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and people who follow traditional

beliefs.

The constitution guarantees freedom of religion in an

officially secular state though tension between followers of

different faiths can flare.

"There can be no sweeping operations ... members of the

public should respect other religions that are carrying out

celebrations," national police chief Tito Karnavian told police

during a security exercise in the capital, Jakarta.

The FPI said it aimed to enforce a fatwa, or decree, issued

by Indonesia's Islamic Clerical Council in 2016 prohibiting

business owners from forcing employees to wear Christmas

clothing.

"We will raid businesses in anticipation of them being

stubborn about this and we will be accompanied by police," said

Novel Bakmukmin, head of the FPI's Jakarta chapter.

Employers forcing staff to wear Christmas clothes were

violating their rights.

"Businesses should be aware that there should be no

forcing," he said.

The Islamic Clerical Council's decrees are not legally

binding but serve as guidelines for Indonesian Muslims.

Christmas is widely celebrated across Indonesia and holiday

decorations are ubiquitous, especially at shops, restaurants and

malls where many enthusiastic workers - even Muslims - don Santa

hats or elf costumes.

The FPI built its reputation with raids on restaurants and

bars serving alcohol during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

In recent years, it has turned its attention to Christian

celebrations.

The group has also said it wants the Jakarta city government

to stop sponsoring New Year celebrations, which attract many

thousands of people.

About 90 000 police officers will be on duty cross the

country during the end-of-year holidays, in an operation largely

aimed at preventing militant attacks.

Attacks on churches in Jakarta and elsewhere on Christmas

Eve in 2000, killed nearly 20 people. Ever since, authorities

have stepped up security at churches and tourist spots for the

holiday. 

Reuters

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