Jakarta. A group of lawyers filed a police complaint on Tuesday over a Quran recitation challenge at a music event in Jakarta that offered a bottle of liquor as a prize, alleging that the stunt amounted to religious blasphemy.

The lawyers, representing a group called the Indonesian Muslim Lawyers Alliance (ALMI), reported the event organizers and other parties they believe were responsible for the incident.

The complaint follows the circulation of a video from a music event in Ancol, North Jakarta, last weekend in which a woman is heard challenging audience members to recite Surah Ad-Duha, a chapter of the Quran, in exchange for a bottle of Newport-branded liquor.

"We see indications of alleged religious blasphemy in a challenge to memorize Surah Ad-Duha with alcoholic beverages offered as the prize. Therefore, we have reported the incident so it can be investigated in accordance with the law," complainant Zaenul Arifin said.

Zaenul said the complaint was not directed solely at the woman who made the offer but also sought an investigation into those responsible for organizing and managing the event.

"We are asking for the venue management, organizers and the person who offered the challenge to be questioned. We leave it entirely to law enforcement authorities to determine whether a criminal offense occurred," he said.

The event organizers and people associated with the incident have issued apologies and explanations on social media.

ALMI said, however, that an apology did not automatically resolve the question of potential criminal liability and called on police to investigate all parties involved.

"We want this case to be handled professionally and transparently through the legal process. An incident like this should not be treated as something ordinary because it involves religious symbols and values," Zaenul said.

The group said it could organize a demonstration if authorities failed to follow up on the complaint.

Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung separately condemned the incident, particularly the association between an alcoholic beverage promotion and a religious practice.

"Regarding the viral alcohol promotion, especially because it was associated with a religious activity, this seriously undermines the religious harmony that we work hard to preserve in Jakarta," Pramono said.

Questions remain, however, over who initiated the challenge.

In a social media statement, a man who identified himself only as Ega and said he was the official host of the event apologized over the incident but claimed that a woman wearing a white shirt had taken the microphone from him before spontaneously offering the Quran recitation challenge.

"The incident was a spontaneous act by an audience member and was not related to Newport. I acknowledge my failure to control the situation and will take this as a lesson to act more responsibly in the future," Ega said.

Police have yet to determine whether the incident constitutes a criminal offense or who, if anyone, should be held legally responsible.

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