Indonesian city to paint over cross-shaped road mosaic after complaints from Muslim groups

A cross-shaped road mosaic in front of the Surakarta City Hall in Central Java being painted over. – photo courtesy of the Surakarta Public Works Ministry/The Jakarta Post/ANN

SURAKATA, Indonesia (The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network): The Surakarta administration in central Java has decided paint over a cross-shaped road mosaic in front of its city hall following complaints from conservative Muslim groups.

"The administration has met with several religious leaders and came up with a number of solutions. But to prevent the polemic from dragging on, we decided to cover the mosaic with paint," Surakarta deputy mayor Achmad Purnomo said on Saturday (Jan 19).