Persaudaraan Alumni 212 (PA 212), an umbrella group consisting of some of the country’s most notorious hardline Islamist organizations such as the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), is set to hold a demonstration outside the Indian embassy in Jakarta over violence against Muslims in the world’s second most populous country.
The protest is expected to take place after Friday prayers. The Indian embassy is located on Jalan HR Rasuna Said in South Jakarta.
In a statement published by Viva, PA 212 is demanding that the Indian government rescind amendments to the country’s citizenship law, which has been widely criticized as being discriminatory towards Muslims and blamed for the ongoing Hindu-Muslim violence in the country. PA 212 is also demanding that all forms of persecution against Muslims in India be stopped.
Furthermore, the group is urging the Indonesian government to sever diplomatic ties with India over human rights violations committed against Muslims there.
On Dec. 2019, India passed the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) to smooth the naturalization of religious minorities from three neighboring countries, with Muslims from those countries excluded from the privilege. The Indian government has also proposed new population registers that many fear would be a tool to marginalize Muslims further.
Hundreds of thousands have rioted across India and Hindu-Muslim tensions have escalated in recent months, resulting in the deaths of at least 75 people.
The Jakarta Metro Police says there will be traffic diversions around Jalan HR Rasuna Said where necessary during the protest, as PA 212 says it will bring out tens of thousands of protesters to the Indian embassy.
