Jessica Harkins, Jakarta – More than 100 members of the Islamic Defenders Front launched protests against foreign-run venues participating in Indonesia's gay and lesbian film festival on Tuesday.

A spokesman for the Centre Culturel Francais in Salemba Raya, Central Jakarta, told the Jakarta Globe that the protesters – wearing white robes and turbans and shouting antigay messages – had gathered outside the center to protest against the two-week Q! Film Festival, which kicked off on Friday.

The representative said the hard-line group, also known as the FPI, were demanding the center abandon its participation in the film festival. The center was awaiting a directive from the festival organizers before a final decision was made, he said.

Q! Film Festival director John Badalu confirmed the demonstrators had moved from the CCF to the GoetheHaus and then on to the Erasmus Huis, where films and other events were also expected to be screened.

He said he was not concerned about safety, as security precautions had been taken. "We anticipated this," he said, adding that the FPI had sent each venue a warning letter. Badalu is currently meeting with the venues and festival partners to discuss the developments.

A representative from the Dutch government-affiliated Erasmus Huis said they were informed about the expected protests on Tuesday morning.

"The FPI just arrived at 12:10 p.m. We expected them at 9 a.m. this morning. We have contacted police and now the management are currently holding a meeting."

The FPI, on its Web site, said it was fighting to stop the campaign of "adultery, homosexuality and lesbianism in Indonesia" disguised as the gay and lesbian film festival.

They said the film festival was a tool to convert Indonesian youth to become gay and lesbian. "So join us in fighting the endorsers of adultery and sinful acts who have castrated the Indonesian government by using foreign powers and the false pretext of human rights."