TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The 212 Alumni Brotherhood (PA 212) called for a protest in front of the French Embassy situated in M.H. Thamrin, Central Jakarta, this afternoon, November 2, 2020.

This will be a protest against the French government for defending the right of Charlie Hebdo Magazine to create caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad.

“Let us surround the French Embassy!” said the poster calling for a demonstration sent by the PA 212 Media Center Head Novel Bamukmin to Tempo on Monday morning.

The mass will also call on the public to boycott French products. Novel explained that today's demonstration, which will also be held to commemorate the birthday of the Prophet, will kick off after the midday prayer.

“It is estimated that tens of thousands up to hundreds of thousands of people will come,” Novel added.

Other than Indonesia, rallies denouncing the French government and calls for a boycott of French goods have also occurred in several Muslim-majority countries.

The Indonesian government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned French President Emmanuel Macron's statement which was considered insulting Islam and Muslim communities around the world.

“Freedom of expression should not be exercised by tarnishing the honor, chastity, and sacred values of a religion and symbols (of religion),” as quoted from the statement of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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M JULNIS FIRMANSYAH