Surabaya Mayor Eri Cahyadi Allows Eid Prayer At Mosque

JAKARTA - Mayor of Surabaya Eri Cahyadi allows the implementation of Eid al-Fitr 1 Syawal 1442 Hijri/2021 prayers in mosques or open locations such as fields in accordance with the zoning of the Implementation of Restrictions on Community Activities (PPKM) microscale or per village.

"Alhamdulillah there has been a mutual agreement with the Governor of East Java and the scholars that Salat Id can be implemented in the zoning of ppkm microscale or village level. That is, if the village area is categorized as yellow and green zones, then this policy can be done by still applying health protocols," said Mayor Eri Cahyadi in Surabaya, reported antara, Monday, May 10.

Eri Cahyadi said the policy, based on the results of a coordination meeting (Rakor) with the Communication Forum of Regional Leaders (Forkopimda) of East Java, the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs of East Java as well as all Regional Heads in East Java, which took place virtually, Sunday, May 9, evening.

In addition, this decision is based on some input from the scholars representatives of Islamic organizations during the coordination meeting took place such as the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) East Java, Regional Manager Nahdlatul Ulama (PWNU) East Java, Regional Leaders Muhammadiyah (PWMU) East Java and Regional Leadership Council (DPW) LDII East Java.

The Mayor of Surabaya previously issued Circular Letter (SE) Number 443/4657/436.8.4/2021 on the exhortation for Surabaya residents to perform Eid prayer at home. The SE came out following up se Kemenag Number 07 Year 2021 Dated May 6, 2021 which requires Eid prayer at home for residents in orange zone status areas. While in Surabaya itself is included in the orange zone.

"At that time I contacted the Governor for directions. The Governor said there will be a meeting on Sunday, May 9, night," he said.

Based on the input of various parties, he continued, in the meeting it was then decided that the zoning intended in se Kemenag was in the sense of micro-scale zoning and not city scale.

Thus, Mayor Eri asserted, that the implementation of Eid prayer in Surabaya can be done for the village area that falls into the category of green and yellow zones. While in Surabaya itself, there are only two villages that are still orange zone status.

"Alhamdulilah if at the village level, then in Surabaya this (majority) zone is a green zone and a yellow zone. There are only two (villages) that are orange zones," Eri said.

To follow up tonight's decision, Mayor Eri stated, will again issue a new circular related to micro-scale zoning policy as a reference for the implementation of Eid prayer. Later the circular issued will be adjusted to the circular letter from the Governor of East Java.

"Later Insha Allah, the Provincial Government will issue a new circular, after which we follow up by making a circular. So when it uses micro PPKM scale zoning, it can automatically be performed Idulfitri Prayer (in mosques)," he said.

However, Mayor Eri also said that in the circular issued, it will also be stipulated on the provisions for citizens who will follow the Eid prayer.

He exemplified that residents in village A with yellow zone status are not allowed to attend Eid prayers in mosques or squares in village B green zone. Residents in village A are encouraged to continue to perform Eid prayers in their respective areas.

He hopes that when the village zone falls into the green or yellow category, residents in the area can pray in their respective regions. That is, residents in the village did not jump to other zone locations.

"So this is expected to make it easier to control and supervise COVID-19," he said.