Angry crowd gathers in Ramkhamhaeng 53 over Islam insult claim
A tense situation broke out in Soi Ramkhamhaeng 53 in Bangkok on Sunday evening after a social media livestream, allegedly mocking Islam and the Quran, spread widely on social media.
The person at the centre of the controversy has been identified as “Mr. Abdulloh”, also known online as ‘Madam Loh’, who is originally from Narathiwat and has been working in Bangkok. The incident outraged many Muslims after video clips of the livestream were shared online.
It is reported that the dispute began several days earlier, after a discussion about transgender Muslims wearing the hijab. The issue then escalated during a livestream, in which Abdulloh was accused of behaving in a disrespectful way toward Islam and allegedly mocking a verse from Al-Fatiha, one of the most important chapters of the Quran used in Muslim prayers.
Some people called on Abdulloh to apologise, but Abdulloh initially appeared defiant on social media, which further inflamed public anger.
On Sunday evening, a meeting between the head of the Charakhe Khop Mosque Community and Abdulloh was arranged at a restaurant in Soi Ramkhamhaeng 53 after community members learned that Abdulloh would be in the area. The intent was reportedly to talk and prevent the situation from getting worse. As news of the meeting spread, however, a crowd of over a thousand people began gathering outside the restaurant.
Abdulloh and the head of the Charakhe Khop Mosque Community
Under pressure from the volatile crowd, Abdulloh reportedly admitted wrongdoing and apologised. Abdulloh also agreed to some demands from the crowd, including slapping his own mouth and having his head shaved in a public sign of remorse.
The situation became chaotic because many people outside the restaurant could not hear the apology. Some people tried to move closer to Abdulloh, prompting police to step in. More than patrol officers were called in to control the situation and escort Abdulloh away to a police station for further legal procedures.
The incident has also sparked a wider debate about how religious organisations should respond to sensitive disputes in the age of social media.
Associate Professor Dr. Chaiwat Meesanthan, Director of the Institute of East Asian Studies at Thammasat University, later commented on the incident on Facebook. He said Islamic religious organisations should take a more active role when sensitive conflicts arise. He proposed the creation of a fast-response coordination team that could receive complaints, work with state authorities, visit affected areas and communicate quickly with the public to reduce misunderstanding and prevent anger from spreading.
He stressed that this should not become a form of religious police and that law enforcement must remain the duty of the police and state authorities. Instead, he said such a team should help calm tensions and guide communities through legal and peaceful channels.
Thai PBS World reached out to the Office of the Islamic Affairs Committee of Bangkok Metropolis for a comment on this incident. Anusorn Ongard, the director of the Corporate Communications and Information Technology Department, said the matter is currently under discussion and accurate communication is needed to ensure a proper understanding of Islam.
Recently, a Facebook user named “มุสตะกีม บ้านป่า พัฒนาการ” (Mustaqeem Ban Pa Phatthanakan) posted an update claiming that Abdulloh was under his team’s care and had shown genuine remorse. In his post, he asked the public to forgive Abdulloh and said the person had repented. He also said that he plans to take Abdulloh to file a complaint against those who allegedly attacked Abdulloh and his team during the incident.
The Soi Ramkhamhaeng 53 area is home to a large Muslim community. It is also home to many students and residents from Thailand’s southern border provinces. The area has halal food shops, markets and mosques, making it an important community space for many Muslims living in Bangkok.
By Kitipat Chuensukjit