Jakarta, Indonesia - Hundreds of people from various Islamic organizations staged a rally in front of the Saudi Arabia Embassy in East Jakarta on Monday protesting the torture and murder of Indonesian migrant workers in a country where Islam was born.
The Islamic organizations included the Islam Followers Forum (FUI) and Islam Defenders Front (FPI), which are known for their violent activism, most recently in the case involving the Ahmadiyah sect.
The protesters demanded the Saudi Arabia government protect Indonesians working in the country and prosecute those responsible for numerous torture and murder cases involving migrant workers.
FPI Jakarta chapter secretary-general Sobri Lubis said every case must be met with fair legal enforcement and must not end in a financial settlement.
“The dignity of Indonesians should not be pawned for money from Saudi employers or the government. The FPI demands the Saudi government implement the law according to Sharia,” Sobri said as quoted by Jakarta Government news portal beritajakarta.com.
FUI secretary-general Muhammad al-Khathtath said the Saudi government should prosecute people who commit crimes, regardless of their status in society.
Representatives of the protesters were later granted entry by the Saudi embassy.