Hundreds protest French Buddha Bar in Indonesia

Indonesian demonstrators say the sophisticated bar and restaurant threatens interfaith relations in the overwhelmingly Muslim country.

Buddha Bar

In France, the Buddha Bar hardly strikes its clients as a controversial and provocative venue. Its designers aimed for chic and oriental with a selection of World music hits, colourful sofas and soft, sultry decorations. But in Indonesia, the local branch of the French chain is making waves.

Members of Indonesia’s Buddhist minority consider the name “Buddha Bar” to be an insult to their religion.

On Wednesday, about 300 people of a group calling itself the “People’s alliance to close the Buddha Bar” demonstrated in front of the restaurant in Jakarta.

"We're worried the existence of Buddha Bar can damage relations between people from different religions, and can also threaten the nation's unity," rally spokesman Karya Elly said. "Although I'm a Christian, I feel that the name of the bar has defamed Buddhism as a religion. The government should close the bar, then change its name if they want to re-open it."

The group also demonstrated in front of the French embassy and asked the French government to put pressure on the owner of the chain, George V Eatertainment.

Since it opened in late 2008, enraged Buddhists staged several demonstrations to demand the removal of Buddhist religious objects in the restaurant.

The chain has since renamed the restaurant “Buddhabar”, a move which failed to quell the protests.