The Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) is claiming that they
were framed at Monday’s protest against an anti-Islamic movie that
turned violent in front of the US Embassy in Jakarta.
Hundreds of members of the FPI and the Islamic People’s Forum (FUI) — among other Islamic groups — staged a rally from the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta to the nearby US Embassy on Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan at noon on Monday, in protest against the movie “Innocence of Muslims” which mocks Islam and the Prophet Muhammad.
The rally began peacefully according to reports, (despite causing some traffic congestion), but turned violent when protesters arrived in front of the US Embassy, with some of them hurling Molotov cocktails toward police officers, and police retaliating by spraying tear gas and shooting water canons.
Seven police officers and several protesters were reportedly injured in the incident.
“As soon as we arrived and were preparing for orations, members of an organization attacked police. I cannot mention yet the name of the organization,” the secretary of the Jakarta office of the FPI, Novel Ba Mu’min, told BeritaSatu.com on Monday.
“We’re still confused as to why the organization played an agent provocateur,” he added.
Novel said the FPI would investigate the incident, as four FPI members were injured, and four others detained by police.
He added the FPI would nevertheless continue staging protests against the film “Innocence of Muslims,” and would even dispatch up to 10,000 people in an upcoming protest.
“As long as [US President Barack] Obama has not apologized and revoked the movie, we’re not afraid of conducting other rallies. We’re targeting 10,000 people in an upcoming protest,” Novel said.
Hundreds of members of the FPI and the Islamic People’s Forum (FUI) — among other Islamic groups — staged a rally from the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta to the nearby US Embassy on Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan at noon on Monday, in protest against the movie “Innocence of Muslims” which mocks Islam and the Prophet Muhammad.
The rally began peacefully according to reports, (despite causing some traffic congestion), but turned violent when protesters arrived in front of the US Embassy, with some of them hurling Molotov cocktails toward police officers, and police retaliating by spraying tear gas and shooting water canons.
Seven police officers and several protesters were reportedly injured in the incident.
“As soon as we arrived and were preparing for orations, members of an organization attacked police. I cannot mention yet the name of the organization,” the secretary of the Jakarta office of the FPI, Novel Ba Mu’min, told BeritaSatu.com on Monday.
“We’re still confused as to why the organization played an agent provocateur,” he added.
Novel said the FPI would investigate the incident, as four FPI members were injured, and four others detained by police.
He added the FPI would nevertheless continue staging protests against the film “Innocence of Muslims,” and would even dispatch up to 10,000 people in an upcoming protest.
“As long as [US President Barack] Obama has not apologized and revoked the movie, we’re not afraid of conducting other rallies. We’re targeting 10,000 people in an upcoming protest,” Novel said.
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