Fact Check: Hoaks Video Narrative Of Thousands Of Congregation Without Masks Welcomes Ustaz Abdul Somad During The COVID-19 Pandemic

JAKARTA - Through the Hoax Buster channel the COVID-19 Task Force participated in informing a video with a false narrative about congregants without masks welcoming Ustadz Abdul Somad in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, the video was recorded in March 2019 or before COVID-19 hit Indonesia.

"In fact, the video was recorded on March 8, 2019 or in other words before the Covid-19 pandemic. This moment was the congregation who was welcoming Ustadz Abdul Somad (UAS) when they were about to fill the tablig akbar event at Dayah Serambi Aceh, "said the explanation quoted from the page covid19.go.id, Sunday, January 3.

In the explanation that was originally posted by Turnbackhoax, it was explained that the Facebook account FfyamEnjoy shared a video previously uploaded by the Dunia santri Aswaja account.

In the video, thousands of worshipers without wearing masks were seen welcoming Ustadz Abdul Somad (UAS). Unlike the World santri Aswaja account which provided the statement "Ustat Abdul Somad Reruns", the FfyamEnjoy account actually gave the statement "YA ALLLAH THIS IS DANGEROUS THERE IS A VIRUS COVIT 19 WHY LEFT DANGER".

After a search was carried out, it was discovered that the information provided by the FfyamEnjoy account was a hoax. In fact, the video is a moment for UAS to attend a tablig akbar at Dayah Serambi Aceh, Meunasah Rayeuk Village Area on March 8, 2019, which was in other words before the COVID-19 pandemic.

This fact is based on a video uploaded by FADHILLAH STUDIO's Youtube account entitled "USTADZ ABDUL SOMAD IN SERAMBI ACEH 2019, + THOUSANDS OF JAMAAH_FULHD" which was uploaded on March 9, 2019.

At the beginning of the video to be precise in the seventh second, the FADHILLAH STUDIO Youtube account also provides the following information:

"Tablig Akbar with Ust. H. Abdul Somad, Lc, Ma Di Dayah Serambi Aceh Meulaboh, Aceh Barat March 8, 2019, ”wrote the FADHILLAH STUDIO account at the beginning of the video.