Indonesia is a mainly Muslim country, and
although girly magazines like FHM and Maxim are available
in shops, it would take great courage or an absolute lack
of business acumen to start an Indonesian edition of Playboy
Magazine.
This is exactly what Erwin Arnada did in
2006.
It featured none of the nudity for
which its international versions are famous, had
acquired the necessary licences, and was sold in
sealed bags, but it took just two editions for the
FPI to put him out of business, and in lot of trouble.
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Responding to pressure from religious groups
such as the FPI, prosecutors charged the editor and publishers
with indecency.
The charges were thrown out of court in
2007.
But then, in 2008, lawmakers in Indonesia
passed a controversial anti-pornography law and the state
promptly took Arnada’s case to the Supreme Court.
Prosecutors have said they are expecting
to receive a Supreme Court ruling confirming the editor's
conviction for indecency, three years after a lower court
dismissed the charges.
Not prepared to take any chances, the FPI
on Thursday mobilised their stick-wielding members to hunt
down Arnada and hand him over to the police.
Just in case he decides to leave Indonesia.
Ai ya yai!
