The Excitement Of Princess Rizieq Shihab's Wedding Leads To A Fine Of IDR 50 Million

JAKARTA - The wedding of the daughter of the High Imam of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) Rizieq Shihab, Najwa Shihab, which was held in a series of events to commemorate the Prophet's birthday which was held on Saturday night, November 14, became the public spotlight. Apart from the fact that this event caused a crowd, recently the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government gave a warning until the sanction that had been paid by Rizieq was IDR 50 million.

After returning from Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, November 10, the FPI frontman has a number of agendas including the marriage of his son, Syarifah Najwa Shihab, to Muhammad Irfan Alaydrus. This wedding was held at Rizieq Shihab's residence, Petamburan Street, Central Jakarta and the spotlight arose because health protocols were not followed there.

Even though there are a number of people, without exception Rizieq Shihab wearing masks and face shields or faceshields, still the crowd generated in this event is of concern to other people. From VOI's monitoring through Front TV, during the event, there was no one meter minimum distance according to the health protocol to prevent COVID-19. Apart from that, the committee also did not provide a marker of which places could be occupied and which were not.

The situation on stage is not much different from the situation below the stage where the congregation sits. The habib and ulama sat close to each other without maintaining a distance and did not appear to be wearing masks even though the committee continued to ask that all present wear masks.

"While welcoming the arrival of our teacher, we are reminded to all worshipers to wear masks, to maintain health protocols," said an event guide for the Prophet's birthday, which also coincided with the Nikah Najwa Shihab and Irfan Alaydrus contracts.

The large number of congregants who attended the Prophet's birthday as well as the wedding had received attention from the Task Force for Handling COVID-19. Indeed, they did not prohibit the event, but they provided assistance in the form of 10,000 cloth masks, 10,000 medical masks, and hand sanitizers.

This mask was delivered by the Director of Logistics and Equipment Management of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Rustian directly to Rieziq's residence before the event started and the Head of BNPB who also serves as Chair of the COVID-19 Task Force Doni Monardo confirmed this assistance.

According to Doni, the provision of masks and hand sanitizers was carried out because his party assessed that the crowd that occurred every activity related to Rizieq did not apply health protocols.

"We saw a number of activities attended by Habib Rizieq Shihab, a lot of people who ignored health protocols, did not maintain their distance, and many did not use masks and this is what we are very sorry for," Doni said in a written statement to reporters on Sunday, 15 November.

This assistance was provided to enforce health protocol rules which resulted in the suppression of transmission of COVID-19 due to the crowd.

Shortly before the Prophet's birthday and Najwa Shihab's wedding, the crowd that was expected to emerge from supporters and sympathizers was also predicted by the Central Jakarta City Government. Even though he did not disband, however, a letter threatening sanctions if there was a violation of the health protocol came to Rizieq's residence.

The letter, which was signed by the Mayor of Central Jakarta Bayu Meghantara, said that Rizieq, as a person who has an intention, must implement the health protocol because currently DKI Jakarta is still implementing transitional large-scale social restrictions (PSBB).

"In accordance with these conditions, you are asked to apply health protocols, both the committee and participants who attended the event with a maximum of 30 people in one room," wrote Bayu in the letter.

In addition, the Central Jakarta City Government also requested that Rizieq as the host provide facilities and infrastructure for COVID-19 prevention such as hand washing stations, hand sanitizers, and other necessary equipment.

But the appeal is just an appeal. Because, during the implementation of these activities, everyone gathered in one place. There is no health protocol to prevent COVID-19 either by the congregation or by the figures present there and the event lasts until Sunday morning, November 15 at around 01.00 WIB.

The wedding ceremony on this stage was only followed by Irfan Alaydrus while Najwa, the bride was waiting at his father's residence. The event was held in Arabic and without the presence of DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan who was predicted to be a witness of the marriage.

The news about Anies being a witness in the marriage contract broke out after the invitation to the wedding ceremony of Rizieq's child was spread and mentioned this. However, until evening when the ceremony was held, the nose of the former Minister of Education and Culture (Mendikbud) was not visible on the stage. He prefers to take part in an activity entitled 'Gathering with Family of Heroes' which is held online through the Zoom application and broadcast on the YouTube account of the AR Baswedan Foundation.

The threat of sanctions conveyed by the Central Jakarta City Government actually occurred the day after the event was held. Head of Jakarta Satpol PP Arifin visited Rizieq Shihab's residence on Sunday, November 15. He came to convey about sanctions to the FPI frontman because the event he was holding had caused a crowd and did not comply with health protocols.

"This visit is about enforcing the COVID-19 protocol. Yes (Rizieq, red) is subject to sanctions," said Arifin after the visit.

The sanctions given in the aftermath of the event are administrative fines of IDR 50 million. Arifin said that his party had sent the fine letter to Rizieq.

Apart from Rizieq, at least 37 people who attended the event also received sanctions. According to DKI Jakarta Deputy Governor Ahmad Riza Patria said they were given sanctions for violating health protocols, especially not wearing masks.

"There are approximately 37 people who do not wear masks and have been given fines and social work sanctions. This sanction is given by the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government through Satpol PP," said Riza to reporters, Sunday, November 15.

Meanwhile, regarding the Rp 50 million sanction, Rizieq Shihab's son-in-law representing the family, Hanif Alatas, said that his party had received the sanction letter delivered by Arifin and knew his mistake. "So Habib Rizieq has received a fine letter from Satpol PP. We from the family accept and understand it," he told reporters in the Petamburan area, Central Jakarta.

He explained that Rizieq had resolved the issue of administrative fines for violating health protocols during the Prophet's birthday and the wedding. It's just that, Hanif doesn't know exactly how much has been paid.

"I don't know the technicalities but I have paid," he said.

"I don't know the details (payment of fines, red). But a maximum of Rp. 50 million in fines has been written. So the point has been paid," he concluded.