Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Reuters
Reuters
Politics
Kate Lamb and Stanley Widianto

Indonesia bar chain shut after blasphemy charges over drinks promotion

Municipal officers seal the Holywings bar after police charged six employees with blasphemy over a promotional activity offering free alcohol for people named "Muhammad" or "Maria" in Jakarta, Indonesia, June 28, 2022. REUTERS/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana

Indonesian authorities stripped a bar and restaurant chain in the capital, Jakarta, of its operating permit after police charged six employees with blasphemy over a promotion offering free drinks for people named Mohammad or Maria.

Critics have said Indonesia's strict blasphemy laws are being used to erode a long-standing reputation for tolerance and diversity in the world's biggest Muslim-majority country.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.