Playboy magazine may no longer rate on the sexual cutting edge in some
places, but the first edition in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim
nation, caused a stir Friday.
A street
vendor sells first copies of a local version of Playboy magazine in
Jakarta, Indonesia April 7, 2006. [Reuters] |
Although the pictures inside showed less skin than US issues 50 years ago,
copies were being passed from desk to desk in Jakarta offices, high demand was
reported, and newspapers and broadcasters dwelt at length on the Indonesian
issue.
A leader of one militant Islamic group threatened to use force, if necessary,
to get the magazine withdrawn.
Like the iconic original, the Indonesian Playboy included a serious
interview, in-depth articles and color pictures of women, including a fold-out.
But no nipples were exposed in the photos, let alone anything approaching full
nudity.
"I didn't see any surprising thing in this magazine. It depends on how people
interpret it. For me, no problem," Alex, a white-collar worker who did not want
to give his full name, told Reuters Television.
A 40-year-old housewife, Maya, disapproved. "Surely it is against the new
anti-pornography law," she said.
Condemnation also came from Chamammah Soeratno, head of the women's wing of
major Muslim moderate group Muhammadiyah.
"Everyone knows it's a pornographic magazine. The first edition may not have
any nudity. That's a very clever move by the publishers," she told Reuters.
Indonesia's parliament is debating a law to significantly tighten control of
media as well as public behavior in an effort to reduce what its proponents see
as pornography.
Threat to Editors
Indonesia has many magazines on news stands that go further than the new
Playboy in the sexual content of their articles and at least as far in their
pictures.
In fact, magazine and newspaper agent Azis, 41, said Playboy was not
different enough from an existing upscale Indonesian men's magazine, Matra.
But even months ago the Playboy image and its Western origin had sparked
protests at the mere news of plans for the Indonesian edition, despite promises
of a tame version.
Around 85 percent of Indonesia's 220 million people follow Islam. Although
most are moderates, there is a growing tendency toward showing Islamic identity
and conservative attitudes.