Minister Of Religion Yaqut Urges Local Government To Accommodate Applications For Fasum Permits For Religious Activities

Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas. (ANTARA/HO-Kemenag)

Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas appealed to local governments (Pemda) to accommodate every application for permits to use public facilities in their working areas for religious activities, including for Eid prayers. "I appeal to all regional leaders to accommodate requests for public facility permits in their working areas for the use of religious activities as long as they do not violate statutory provisions," Yaqut said in a statement received in Jakarta, Antara, Monday, April 17. The appeal was conveyed by Minister of Religion Yaqut following the growing news regarding the permit application submitted for the takmir of the Al Hikmah Mosque, Podosgulih, Pekalongan, Central Java, to the Pekalongan City Government. Takmir mosque intends to use Mataram Field, Pekalongan City for Eid al-Fitr 1444 Hijri prayers on Friday, April 21, 2023. In the stipulation of 1 Syawal 1444 Hijri/2023 AD there is a potential difference between the provisions of the government and Muhammadiyah. Muhammadiyah has decided on Eid al-Fitr to fall on Friday, April 21. Meanwhile, the government will only set Syawal 1 after holding an isbat session on April 20, 2023. If there is a difference, Yaqut asks the public to respect each other. Differences should be responded to and handled wisely. "I appeal to all Muslims to respect differences," he said. Minister of Religion Yaqut also asked all regional leaders to grant requests for public facilities for the implementation of Eid prayers, although the implementation was different from the results of the isbat session decided by the government. According to him, this is important to do in order to celebrate differences in a wise and wise way. "I appreciate the Mayor of Pekalongan who has facilitated the Takmir of the Al Hikmah Mosque to be able to use other public facilities in the implementation of Eid al-Fitr prayers on April 21, 2023. Thus, people who will carry out Eid prayers on April 21, 2023 can still be facilitated," he said. The Minister of Religion invites all parties to always make tolerance for differences of opinion as spirit and spirit in daily religious life. "This is a form of religious moderation movement launched by the Indonesian government," said Yaqut.