Indonesian President Joko Widodo has cancelled his visit to Australia after violent Islamist protests erupted in Jakarta, the Guardian reported on Saturday.

President Widodo – known as Jokowi – was set to arrive on Sunday for a three-day visit to meet his Australian counterpart, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, as well as other ministers and business leaders. 

He was also scheduled to address the Australian parliament on Monday.

However, protests in the streets of Jakarta, which began peacefully on Friday in response to accusations the governor, a Christian, had insulted the Qur’an, turned violent.

Turnbull said he had received a call from Jokowi on Saturday afternoon to express regret that his trip would have to be rescheduled “as a result of the security situation in Jakarta which requires his personal attention”.

Source: MENA