Istiqlal Does Not Hold Eid Al-Adha Prayers At State Level

President Joko Widodo watching the sterilization process of the Istiqlal mosque (Diah Ayu Wardani / VOI)

JAKARTA - Istiqlal Mosque will not hold state-level Iduladha 1441H prayers. Minister of Religion Fachrul Razi said that until now, the COVID-19 pandemic had not made it possible for the Istiqlal mosque to hold state-level Eid al-Adha prayers.

"Observing the development of the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia, especially DKI Jakarta, Istiqlal will not hold the Eid Al-Adha Prayer 10 Zulhijjah 1441H," said Fachrul as quoted by the Ministry of Religion website, Monday, July 27.

According to him, the Eid al-Adha prayer at Istiqlal has been attended by tens of thousands of participants. This will make it difficult to implement health protocols in the midst of a pandemic. For the temperature checking process, for example, with tens of thousands of congregants, of course it takes time.

"The process is also not easy because access in and out must also be limited along with the implementation of health protocols. So the potential for crowd is very high," he said.

Fachrul added that the renovation of the Istiqlal mosque was almost complete, but the pandemic situation was not over. He hopes that conditions will soon improve so that people can worship in places of worship comfortably.

The isbat session held by the Ministry of Religion on July 21 2020 determined that 1 Zulhijjah 1441H coincided with 22 July 2020. In this regard, Eid al-Adha prayers will be held on 31 July.