Here's an update to my post Muslims attack offices of Playboy Indonesia

First we read that South Jakarta Police arrest a member of Islam Defenders Front for attack on Playboy Indonesia's office building (1). But this was not enough to assuage the fear of further attacks and so Indonesian Playboy halted further publications. (2)

Interested participant rightly observes the protests against Playboy have less to do with its content and more to do with the fact that the magazine is a prominent icon of Western civilization. Hardline Muslim followers probably see its publication as breaking down a significant cultural barrier.

Despite vacating the offices Playboy is busy with the next edition. (3)

Ryo Saeba

Xinhua - English, 20 Apr 2006, Playboy Indonesia obsessed with security, ethic, legal problems

Playboy Indonesia has found itself in troubled water as its maiden issue triggered off protests nationwide in the past two weeks and the police here on Thursday summoned its editor-in-chief Erwin Arnada to investigate its publication in the largest Muslim country of the world.

The summons of Arnada and several other editors was part of the police effort to know whether or not there was criminal offence particularly violation of ethical norms in the magazine, spokesman of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police Chief Commissioner I Ketut Untung Yoga Ana said.

The police would also summon expert witnesses in the fields of crime, language and culture together with Islamic leaders in relation with the magazine, he added.

Chief of Jakarta Metropolitan Police Insp. Gen. Firman Gani had earlier proposed that the magazine be banned from circulating in the capital on the grounds certain groups of people were opposed to it.

Meanwhile, Arnada certified that the summons were in response to charges by Islamic groups that the magazine violated articles of the criminal code, which carry a maximum penalty of 16 months in jail.

Previously, police and government ministers had said the country had no laws to ban the magazine, the first edition of which featured no nudity and was less risky than other local and international magazines already for sale in Indonesia.

Despite of its toned-down style to meet this Muslim country's moral standard, protests had jolted some 10 provinces, with newsstands searched and magazines burned, since its first edition hit the streets on April 7.

[...]

Most critics insisted that the name of the magazine alone was grounds for the government to ban it, for it stood for eroticism and luxurious life style of the United States, the magazine's originating country.

A tip of the turban to asia pundit for leading us to Tiara Lestari, the Indonesian woman who set off a storm of controversy by appearing in a European edition of Playboy, has said that she will no longer be doing nude photos. She also offers her opinion on Playboy launching an Indonesian edition.

ENDNOTES

(1):

AsiaMedia, 19 Apr 2006, INDONESIA: FPI member arrested for 'Playboy' attack

South Jakarta Police have arrested a member of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) for last week's attack on the building that Playboy Indonesia magazine runs out of.

Playboy's office is on the fourth floor but the attackers did not make it past the lobby.

Police identified the FPI member as Agus Irawan, a resident of Ciomas village in Babakan, Bogor.

Earlier police arrested the coordinator of the protest, Zaenal alias Ali Zaini, for allegedly inciting the protesters to carry out acts of anarchy.

(2):

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan, 21 Apr 2006, Indonesian Playboy halts operations after protests

JAKARTA - The Indonesian edition of US adult magazine Playboy has suspended operations for security reasons in the wake of violent protests by Muslim hardliners, its editor said on Thursday.

"For the time being, we are prioritizing security. We have vacated our office [actually they were evicted - Bernie]and we have halted our operational activities,” chief editor Erwin Arnada told reporters.

The announcement follows violent demonstrations by the hardline Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) over the publication of the magazine, a toned-down version, which does not carry nudes.

(3):

Asia Pacific Arts, 19 Apr 2006, INDONESIA: Playboy staff preparing for next issue

Though the future of Playboy Indonesia is in doubt after violent protests by Islamic fundamentalist groups, the magazine's editorial staff is busily preparing what they hope will be a second edition.

After being evicted from their Jakarta office, staff members are putting together the second edition with the help of information technology.

"We don't have an office to work from, but we are able to get our work done with the help of information technology," Playboy Indonesia deputy chief editor Avian Arifin said on Monday.