MUI Asks For Policies For Handling COVID-19 To Be Integral, Not Different In Treatment
JAKARTA - The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) views the government's policies regarding the handling of COVID-19 in Indonesia, especially the easing of a number of public facilities in line with the spread of transmission, must be integral and there should be no difference in treatment.
"When there is an easing of the conditions for handling COVID-19 which has begun to be controlled, then the treatment applies in its entirety. There is equal treatment," said MUI Fatwa Division Head Asrorun Niam, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, October 27.
Asrorun disagrees if there is an opinion stating that religious activities are the trigger for the increasing number of COVID-19 transmissions in the community, so they must still be limited.
Instead, he said, in the implementation of religious activities, there has been a balance between religious responsibilities and maintaining the safety of souls.
"For religious activities such as Friday prayers, Eid al-Fitr or going to church, on average they understand health protocols, even those who are not controlled are those who are recreational," he said.
He gave an example of a number of tourism places that have received easing to open and even given incentives for economic recovery, but in fact they cannot maintain the Health Protocol regulations such as capacity that exceeds the provisions.
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Meanwhile, in religious places, policies for handling COVID-19 have been implemented in a measurable manner by taking into account health protocols. Therefore, relaxation policies must be applied integrally to all aspects of life.
This means that if public facilities such as economic recovery sectors are given relaxation. So religious activities should not be limited as long as they adhere to health protocols.
"At a time when malls are full of economy, the economy can thrive, but on the other hand, the responsibility for health protocols must still be realized. If the mosque is under control, it is rare for mosques to ignore Health Protocol, street recitations, we need to take care of things like this," he said.