In his new movie "?" Hanung Bramatyo invites viewers to reconsider their faith and to reflect upon a society in which people of different religions can live together in harmony. His argument is that times have changed since his childhood when grew up in a non-Muslim community, with a Chinese mother, and was influenced by different religions. For him, Ramadan and Christmas were equally important religious holidays although he was Muslim.

 

Indonesia has five official religions, Hanung Bramatyo reminds the viewer, and he proposes alternative ways of finding god. He fears society has become more repressive since 9/11 and calls for more religious tolerance.

 

The stance of Hanung Bramantyo, who has already made several films about Islam, including the box-office hit "Ayat-Ayat Cinta" ("Verses of Love") has provoked the ire of some conservative Muslims in Indonesia.

 

Pluralism is 'dangerous'

 

The hard-line Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) has criticized the film for its liberal stance and its promotion of pluralism. Habib Salim Alatas, the leader of FPI's Jakarta branch told Deutsche Welle that the film would lead to conflict between Muslims, which was very dangerous.

 

The FPI has been particularly critical of the fact that the film suggests that Indonesia's Muslim minority is suppressing minorities with its scenes of the stabbing of a priest or the burning of a church, and its depiction of a woman converting to Christianity because she is against polygamy.

 

Habib Salim Alatas said that the film conveyed the wrong message and misused Islamic symbols: "For example, traditional headdresses should only be worn in a mosque. We Muslims have never exerted pressure on Christians and we do not force them to convert to Islam."

 

He also said that if the film was shown, the FPI could not be held responsible for the consequences. "We are not making any threats," he insisted. "We are not exerting any pressure. These are simply facts."

 

Bowing to pressure

 

The film was supposed to be broadcast by the SCTV television station on the last night of Ramadan but it was pulled after hundreds of FPI members demonstrated in front of the station's headquarters in central Jakarta.

 

SCTV said it had decided not to screen the film after meeting with the protesters. On Friday, the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission criticized the station for its decision.

 

"It does not violate any regulations," Ezki Suyanto from the commission told Deutsche Welle. "The film passed the censorship requirements. If people have problems with the content they can turn to the broadcasting commission."

 

"Indonesia is not a Muslim state," she added. "It is a democratic state so why are the instruments of democracy not being used? They could make a film that shows their own point of view."

 

Ezki Suyanto said she hoped Indonesia's television stations would stick together out of solidarity and not bow down to pressure from hardliners. "It's only a question of time till other stations end up in the same boat," she predicted.

 

Author: Anne Thomas (AFP)
Editor: Ziphora Robina