Muslim Leaders Protest Potential Easing of Alcohol & Prostitution Ban in Tangerang

Tangerang. A group of Muslim clerics and community leaders visited the Tangerang City Legislative Council on Tuesday to voice their opposition to any move to legalize alcohol sales and prostitution in the city in Banten province. The visit followed reports suggesting that the city administration and the local legislature were considering easing long-standing regional regulations banning alcoholic beverages and prostitution, which have been in place for about two decades, in an effort to boost local revenue. One of the clerics, Mahdi Adhiansyah, said the regulation was the result of what he described as a “hard-fought struggle” by Muslim groups and other segments of society to protect young people in Tangerang. “The issue of revising this regulation has spread so widely that we felt it necessary to come here directly, representing various elements of society, to confirm whether the city government or the council truly intends to initiate such changes,” Mahdi said. He expressed concern that even limited exemptions — such as allowing alcohol sales at hotels — could open the door to permit abuse and lead to uncontrolled distribution of alcoholic beverages. Previously, Tangerang Mayor Sachrudin dismissed the speculation, saying there was no plan to revise regulations related to alcohol or prostitution. “Do not worry. The issue of easing the ban on alcohol and prostitution never came from us,” the mayor said. The controversy originated from remarks by Tangerang City Council Speaker Rusdi Alam, who suggested that the city administration was considering revising the prohibition because strict regulations had prompted tourists to choose destinations with more relaxed rules. Since then, public debate over the issue has intensified among various community groups in Tangerang, a city located on the western edge of Jakarta’s metropolitan area. City officials have yet to formally submit any proposal to revise the regulation, but the issue has continued to generate strong reactions across religious, civic, and political circles. Tags: Keywords: