Bekasi City Government Which Is Anti Mainstream, Inviting Residents To Pray Eid Al-Fitr In Congregation

Istiqlal Mosque (Angga Nugraha / VOI)

JAKARTA - The Bekasi City Government continues to allow its citizens to carry out Eid Al-Fitr prayers in congregation at mosques and prayer rooms in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. It's just that this permit is given to people who are in green zone locations.

"Eid prayers are allowed in green zone locations," said Bekasi Mayor Rahmat Effendi in a written statement quoted by VOI on Saturday, May 23.

He then explained that there are 29 urban villages that have been declared in the green zone, such as Teluk Pucung Village, Harapan Jaya Village, Margamulya Village, Bintara Village, Kranji Village, Bekasi Jaya Village, Jakamulya Village, Kayuringin Jaya Village, Pekayon Jaya Village, Cimuning Village, Kelurahan Harapan Mulya, Medan Satria Village, Jatikarya Village, and Jatiraden Village.

Then there are also Jatiranggon Village, Jatibening Village, Jatibening Baru Village, Jaticempaka Village, Jatiwaringin Village, Ciketing Udik Village, Cikiwul Village, Sumur Batu Village, Jatimekar Village and Jatirasa Village.

In doing so, Rahmat ensured that his citizens would wear masks, keep their distance during prayers, and not shake hands.

"The DKM and officers from the sub-districts and sub-districts must also ensure that no other residents in the sub-district are allowed to pray at the mosque or prayer room. So, Eid prayers are only allowed for residents of the kelurahan area," he said.

Meanwhile, areas that enter the red zone are prohibited from carrying out Eid prayers.

In connection with the habit of residents to practice halal bihalal after the Eid prayer, Rahmat asked the public not to do it.

"After the Eid prayer, residents must immediately go home. The gathering can use technological devices such as cellphones," he said.

Not only Bekasi, a number of regions in Central Java will also continue to carry out Eid prayer activities. One of them is Karangnyar Regency. However, recently, Karanganyar Regent Juliyatmono canceled the Eid prayer which took place at Karanganyar Square.

This cancellation was carried out in response to a letter from the Central Java Representative Ombudsman number B / 037 / HM.02.01-14 / V / 2020 which was received by the ranks of the Karanganyar Regency Government.

Coordinating Minister for PMK emphasized that Eid prayers in congregation are not recommended

Responding to the many regions that insist on carrying out Eid prayers in congregation in mosques or in the field, the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (MenkoPMK) Muhadjir Effendy still emphasizes that the government does not recommend religious activities that involve large numbers of people.

"Based on the Minister of Health's decree, Id prayers involving the crowd, including religious activities that are not recommended. The local government is responsible for implementing the decision," Muhadjir said when confirmed.

He regretted that there were still regional heads who insisted on inviting their citizens to carry out the Eid prayers in congregation.

"That's an unfortunate decision,"

The Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Muhadjir Effendy

It's just that, when asked about the sanctions for regional heads who are still annoying, Muhadjir even threw them at the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menkopolhukam) Mahfud MD. However, Mahfud has yet to provide any comments.

The government has banned people from praying in congregation in mosques during the COVID-19 pandemic

Previously, the Government has confirmed that it will prohibit the public from carrying out Eid prayers in mosques or in the field in congregation in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menkopolhukam) Mahfud MD emphasized that the ban was carried out on the basis of the regulation of the Minister of Health (Permenkes) Number 9 of 2020 concerning Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB).

"In short, massive religious activities such as congregational prayers at mosques or Eid prayers in the field are among the activities prohibited by Permenkes No.9 of 2020," Mahfud said in an online press conference broadcast on the YouTube account of the Presidential Secretariat, Tuesday. , 19 May.

This prohibition, he said, is also regulated in Law Number 6 of 2018 concerning territorial quarantine. Because, in this regulation, said Mahfud, there are rules that prohibit activities that cause crowds to gather and crowd.

"The government strongly requests that these provisions are not violated," said Mahfud.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Religion (Menag) Fachrur Razi stated that his party had issued an appeal in welcoming the Eid Al-Fitr. One such appeal is to pray Eid al-Fitr at home and Eid at home only.

The policy for the Idufitri prayer also considers the RO rate in Indonesia which is still high, namely 1.11. So, there will be no relaxation or easing of the rules for preventing COVID as long as the number has not fallen below 1.

In addition, this policy was taken after hearing input from the State Intelligence Agency (BIN). Fachrur said, if people continue to insist on praying Eid al-Fitr outside their homes, namely in the field or in mosques in congregation in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is not impossible that there will be a significant increase in the number of positive patients.

"The intelligence prediction says that if we pray outside where hundreds, thousands of people gather and gather together, there will be a significant spike in transmission, COVID-19," said the Minister of Religion.

So, he asked the public to comply with the prohibition conveyed by the Minister of Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD. Moreover, this prohibition has been explained in Law Number 6 of 2018 concerning Territorial Quarantine.

"All of us should obey religious activities and restrictions on activities in public facilities in accordance with Law Number 6 of 2018 concerning health quarantine," he said.