Considered Outrageous, PKS Asks Minister Of Religion Yaqut To Immediately Apologize For 'Dogs Barking' Statement

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

JAKARTA - Chairman of the PKS faction, Jazuli Juwaini, assessed that the statement by the Minister of Religion Yaqut Qoumas who made an analogy to the call to prayer from a loudspeaker by exemplifying the barking of a dog was very unethical and outrageous.

He also asked the Minister of Religion to immediately clarify his remarks and apologize to the public. This is because the call to prayer is a religious symbol for Muslims, namely the call to pray five times a day.

"Yaqut's statement is outrageous, unethical, and inappropriate. We ask for immediate clarification and apologies," said Jazuli to reporters, Thursday, February 24.

According to this member of Commission I of the DPR, echoing the call to prayer through loudspeakers has been the wisdom of Muslims in Indonesia for a long time. So far, said Jazuli, there has been no problem because the nation places great emphasis on tolerance.

"People of other religions are not disturbed and can live peacefully side by side. Also, Muslims in minority areas can also accept symbols of worship of other religions, such as mass or service events or road closures and cessation of activities during Nyepi events such as on the Island of the Gods," he explained. Jazuli.

For this reason, the Banten Electoral District Legislator asked the Ministry of Religion not to regulate the issue of loudly echoing the call to prayer through loudspeakers, as if causing a big problem in the community.

Jazuli said that it was left to the wisdom of the religious community. The government, he said, should prioritize narratives and strengthen tolerance, not regulate things that have been going on for a long time and are full of tolerance in the community.

"Playing the call to prayer through loudspeakers has been the wisdom of Muslims in Indonesia for years. Other people live side by side with the call to prayer and are full of tolerance. When the government regulates things that have become wisdom, especially with bad narratives, the result becomes a polemic that counterproductive," said Jazuli.

Jazuli said that the statement of the minister of religion did not represent tolerance, because he was so adamant in controlling the sound of the call to prayer that he made an analogy with the barking of a dog.

"This Ministry of Religion is not newly formed, Yaqut is also not the first minister of religion. There have been many ministers of religion before, but this is not the way to manage people. The Minister of Religion must use common sense and wisdom," concluded Jazuli.