Thousands of Muslims gathered outside a tea shop in Bangkok's Ramkhamhaeng area on Sunday, demanding an apology from an LGBTQ man who mocked and made critical remarks about the Koran during a live stream.
During the broadcast, the man was warned by another man that such behaviour could possibly lead him to Hell, but he had ignored the warning saying, “I’m going to Hell anyway, I’m sure of it, I’m confident.”
The broadcast sparked a backlash from Muslim communities and religious groups, who called it a direct insult to their faith.
People gathered in Soi Ramkhamhaeng 53 to find the man. The crowd wanted him to issue a public apology.
At the gathering, the man in question listened to all the abuse from the crowd, and at one point stood up and slapped his own face to show his remorse.
A Muslim resident of Soi Ramkhamhaeng 53 said he was willing to settle the dispute on the condition that the individual complied with three demands: shave his head, recite a religious text and issue a public apology to Muslims on his personal Facebook account.
The man agreed.
However, as videos began spreading online of the ‘apology gathering’, some began saying it was a form of oppression.
