BALINEWSID.COM, BOGOR — Hundreds of members of several Islamic organizations, including the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), BPPKB, and local religious study groups, staged a protest outside PT Inti Tirta Sari Makmur on Lanbau Street, Citeureup District, Bogor Regency, West Java, on Tuesday (August 18, 2026).

The protest was triggered by a controversy surrounding an alleged religious insult at The Sounds Project event in Jakarta, where participants were reportedly challenged to memorize Surah Ad-Dhuha from the Quran in exchange for alcoholic beverages as prizes.

The protesters condemned the use of the Quran in an activity involving alcoholic drinks and demanded that the factory stop producing alcoholic beverages.

One of the protest coordinators, Ustaz Fauzi, said the protesters were deeply concerned that verses from the Quran had been incorporated into a challenge offering alcoholic beverages as prizes.

He stressed that the protesters were not objecting to the production of halal beverages, but were specifically calling for the production of alcoholic drinks to be stopped.

Habib Bahar bin Smith, who also addressed the crowd, said alcoholic beverages could have harmful effects on society, particularly on younger generations.

“If this liquor factory does not close, God willing, I will be the one to shut it down. If they are asking for seven days, then we will give them seven days to stop production, and all alcoholic products, including those under the OT brand and other products, must be stopped,” Habib Bahar said during the protest.

Company representatives later agreed to meet with representatives of the protesters for dialogue.

Ahmad, a director of PT Inti Tirta Sari Makmur, apologized for the controversy and public uproar caused by the incident.

He said the incident was unacceptable and confirmed that legal proceedings against those involved were already underway.

“Four suspects have been named by the Jakarta Metropolitan Police. Let us all respect and follow the legal process until it is completed,” Ahmad said.

According to Ahmad, the company would also monitor the legal proceedings to establish the full circumstances of the incident and determine why those involved carried out the controversial act.

Following the meeting, the protesters and company reached an agreement for the factory to suspend production for seven days.

During the temporary suspension, the company will consider input from religious scholars, clerics and community leaders before deciding on further steps.

“During this process, we will stop production,” Ahmad said.

The seven-day production halt was agreed as the main outcome of the dialogue between the company and representatives of the protesters following the demonstration outside the factory.