Ministry Of Religion: Places Of Worship Should Not Be An Event For Practical Politics

DOK / Muslim residents perform prayers by implementing health protocols at the Great Mosque of Nurussa'adah, Kupang City, NTT, Friday (5/6/2020). ANTARAPHOTOS/Kornelis Kaha

YOGYAKARTA - The Regional Office of the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) for the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) reminded speakers not to make places of worship as practical political tools during Ramadan 2023.

"We hope that places of worship will not become an arena for practical politics," said Head of the Yogyakarta Regional Office of the Ministry of Religion Masmin Afif as reported by ANTARA, Friday, March 17.

Masmin said that the use of places of worship as practical political arenas has legal consequences stipulated in Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning General Elections (Pemilu).

"That is against the Election Law (UU). Practical politics, yes, in the form of a campaign," he said.

He hopes that during Ramadan 2023, preachers can use places of worship as a means of inviting Muslims to increase their piety to Allah SWT and do good for others.

"Inviting people to become pious people both individually and socially, can be beneficial for many people," said Masmin Afif.

According to him, later there will be a special circular up to the district/city level regarding the appeal during Ramadan

The general chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) DIY Machasin conveyed the same thing.

Apart from asking the public not to turn houses of worship into political activities, he hopes that mosques and prayer rooms will spread hoaxes and pit one against the other.

"We urge you not to use worship for practical political activities, spreading hate speech, hoax news, and pitting one against the other," said Machasin.