Muslims attack offices of Playboy Indonesia
Even though Playboy Indonesia is milder than most magazines already available in the city, Muslim militants (redundant) today attacked Playboy's new Editorial Offices in the Indonesian Capital of Jakarta.
Several Muslims that obtained the first copies at local kiosks earlier last week felt themselves provoked by the erotic men's magazine. Of course, they should do what good Christians in America do when they see obscene material: don't buy it or they change the channel. [I can't help sarcasm sometimes] At least our Christian Taliban doesn't burn down the offices of our local skin rags.
The Islamists broke windows and tore copies of the magazine in the street. The local militants are notorious for similar attacks against bars and clubs that serve alcohol during Ramadan and even attacking unlicensed churches.
Indonesia has other skin magazines going back years now and this edition is milder than most. The first edition has a serious interview, in-depth articles and color pictures of women, including a fold-out. But no nipples were exposed in the photos, let alone anything approaching full nudity. It is more a reaction against the Playboy image than anything else. Now that Playboy is in town the sex can really get hot - is what they're worrying about. Like most Muslims, they like they're child porn and female bondage kept quiet and out of the limelight.
Despite several campaigns against pornography tons of cellphone shops and kiosks sell porn and other magazines and this largest Muslim country has a booming sex industry.
See Video. Don't worry it looks like it's in Danish but the commentary is in English.
MSNBC, Playboy sparks excitement in Muslim Indonesia
A 40-year-old housewife, Maya, disapproved. "Surely it is against the new anti-pornography law,” she said.
Condemnation also came from Chamammah Soeratno, head of the women’s wing of major Muslim moderate group Muhammadiyah.
"Everyone knows it’s a pornographic magazine. The first edition may not have any nudity. That’s a very clever move by the publishers,” she told Reuters.
According to the Australian site smh.com.au:
A proposed version of Playboy magazine in the world's most populous Islamic nation will respect Muslim values and not contain photos of naked women, the publishers said.
I say the only way to respect Muslim values is to show photos of women being beaten and killed after being raped.
But I digress. As to the magazine's content, there are complaints from those who feel cheated:
Mopo, Nude Free Playboy Furore in Muslim Indonesia
Indonesia's first edition of the monthly features pictures of underwear-clad women baring at most midriffs, thighs and cleavage, making it no more risque than local editions of British men's magazines FHM and Maxim already on sale here.
And for some that was the problem.
While Muslim hardliners prepared to protest the launch of the magazine, some readers who paid 39,000 rupiah (about four dollars) were disappointed by the lack of saucy pictures.
"It's sinful to read Playboy if there's no nudity!" a caller to Jakarta's 68H radio said.
"It's a scandal! There's no nude women in the magazine. I think we have been deceived," another caller complained.
Here is a petition to keep Playboy in Indonesia
Trivia
Founded in 1953, Playboy has about 20 editions around the world that cater to local taste. See Playboy ® Covers of the World!
I mentioned that Muslims would have a hard time swallowing [oops] Playboy coming into Indonesia in this post Rita Guedes Miss March 2006 Playboy Brazil, in which I cautioned you not to expect to see this:
UPDATE: 7 Apr 2007
- The editor of the nudity-free Indonesian version of Playboy was found not guilty:Western Resistance, Indonesia: Playboy Magazine And Muslim Fanatacism
On Thursday, April 5, the editor of the nudity-free Indonesian version of Playboy was found not guilty of violating decency by publishing the magazine.
...
The editor-in-chief of the Indonesian version of the magazine, Erwin Arnada was found not guilty of public distribution of indecent pictures and making money from these. At the court in South Jakarta, presiding judge Efran Basuni said that the prosecution's case "could not be accepted", claiming their lawyers "were not diligent". Basuni said the prosecution had not taken into account media laws which had been created after the dictator President Suharto was deposed in 1998.
The trial had been attended by about 200 Islamic militants, who themselves were watched by police who had water cannon at the ready. Hardliners said after the trial that Erwin Arnada had "harmed the nation's morals".
The case highlights how Indonesia, whose population of 220 million is 85% Muslim is riven by opposing interpretations of Islam. The Front Pembela Islam (Islamic Defenders' Front) are the most active in demanding intolerant forms of Islam, described in our Special Report. These activists have mounted campaigns of violence against "American" influence in the country in 2001, and have closed down gambling dens, snooker halls and bars.
