Police in Indonesia have arrested six bar staff for a 'blasphemous' promotion offering free drinks to customers named after the Virgin Mary and MUHAMMAD.

Staff at bar chain Holywings sparked outrage with the promotion which promised a free bottle of Gin for anyone with the same names as the religious icons.

Religious leaders held rallies and protests outside the bar amid fury at the 'offensive' gimmick. Officers from the South Jakarta Metro police force detained six members of the bar's promotions team on June 25.

The advert, posted on Holywings's official social media accounts, read: 'Where is? These names get free bottle! Every Thursday.'

The images then showed two suspects in front of police mug shot screens holding boards with 'Muhammad' and 'Maria', the Indonesian for Mary, written on them.

Men named Muhammad were offered a free bottle of Gordon's, while women named Maria would receive a Gordon's Pink Gin, the poster continued.

Both names refer to figures in Islam and Christianity - the two major religions in Indonesia. The prophet Muhammad is a particularly sensitive area.

Members of the Christian organisation Laskar Manguni Indonesia (LMI) held a protest at a Holywings branch in Manado, South Sulawesi province - a predominantly Christian region in the country. The store's representative later faced the angry crowd and offered an apology.

LMI Chair Tonaas Wangko Hanny Pantouw said: 'This is an insult to the two sacred names of the two major religions, especially in Indonesia. Your creativity has gone too far.'

Similar demonstrations were also carried out by the Ansor Youth Movement, a wing of the Islamic Nahdlatul Ulama organisation, in other Holywings outlets in Indonesia.

Sofyan Hadi, Deputy Chairperson of GP Ansor Jakarta, said: 'We ask the management to apologize publicly, not only in writing but with sincere intentions issued by the management of Holywings.'

Following public furor, the company quickly took down the controversial posters and issued an apology, saying they did not intend to link religious elements to the promotion.

Hotman Paris Nasution, a well-known lawyer and a shareholder of Holywings, said: 'On behalf of Holywings as an institution, I apologize to Muslims.'

The six employees were reportedly arrested on suspicion of blasphemy and for violating Indonesia's Electronic Information and Transactions Act. They may face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Senior Commissioner Budhi Herdi Susianto, Head of the South Jakarta Police, said: 'We have arrested the creative director, head of the promotion team, graphic designer, and three social media team members, including the admin.

'The motives of the suspects are that they created these contents to attract visitors to Holywings outlets, especially outlets whose sales percentage is below the 60 per cent target.'