6 arrested in Indonesia for blasphemy after bar’s free drinks for Muhammad promo backfires

In a now-deleted post, the Holywings bar offered a free bottle of gin for men named Muhammad and women named Maria every Thursday if they showed their ID cards

While the business issued an apology, six suspects including its creative director, could face 10 years in prison if found guilty

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While drinking is not prohibited for any religion in Indonesia’s bars, the act itself is frowned upon by conservative Muslims. File photo: AFP

Published: 7:30am, 25 Jun 2022Updated: 2:05pm, 25 Jun 2022

Indonesian police arrested six people on charges of blasphemy over a bar chain’s free alcohol promotion for patrons named Muhammad, officials said late on Friday, in a case that has sparked outrage in the Muslim-majority country.

In a now-deleted post, the Holywings bar offered a free bottle of gin for men named Muhammad and women named Maria – a popular figure in the Bible – every Thursday if they presented their ID cards.

Alcohol is considered forbidden under Islamic law and while drinking is not prohibited for any religion in the secular country’s bars, the act itself is frowned upon by conservative Muslims.

The post caused fury online, and several youth organisations reported the management to police for allegedly committing blasphemy, while other groups threatened to raid the bar chain’s locations.

Late on Friday, police presented six suspects, including Holywings’ creative director and the head of its promotional team, during a televised press conference.

“Six people have been named suspects and they all work for the company,” South Jakarta police chief Budhi Herdi Susianto said.

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