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 rapid backlash from Muslim communities and religious groups, who condemned it as more than just a personal opinion and more an act of harassment and a direct insult to their faith.

People gathered in Soi Ramkhamhaeng 53 for public scrutiny of the man. The crowd sought to pressure the individual featured in the video to admit to wrongdoing and issue a public apology. They argued that failing to address the matter could normalise disrespectful behaviour and deepen tensions within a multicultural society.

At the gathering, the man in question suffered under all the abuse from the crowd, and at one point even stood up and slapped his own face to show his remorse.

Mr Narupol, 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 the Kalimah Shahada as a declaration of conversion to Islam, and issue a public apology to Muslims on his personal Facebook account.

He added that no further action would be taken if the conditions were accepted.

The man agreed to have his head shaved. Following the ritual, Wang Thonglang police escorted him away from the scene. Tensions escalated during the shaving ritual. Several people in the crowd attempted to attack him, causing a brief commotion.

However, as videos began surfacing online of the ‘apology gathering’, some began saying it was a form of oppression that a large crowd should use physical violence under the protective umbrella of a religion.

Negotiations stretched on for close to three hours, with Pol Col Jesada Yangnok serving as mediator. In the end, both parties came to an agreement, and to not file legal complaints.