Prohibition Of Iftar Together, Minister Of Religion: President Jokowi Is Not Anti Islam

Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas emphasized that President Joko Widodo (Jokowi)'s appeal regarding the prohibition of breaking together during Ramadan 1444 Hijriah did not represent Jokowi anti Islam.

Yaqut said, he and the ministers of the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet will follow the direction of Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to eliminate breaking the fast together during Ramadan 1444 Hijri/2023 AD.

"It's not a prohibition, but a directive from the President because we see the situation. We as subordinates will definitely follow the President's direction," Yaqut told the media crew at the Jakarta Presidential Palace, quoted by ANTARA, Friday, March 24.

The Minister of Religion also rejected the assumption that the directive would make President Jokowi labeled anti-Islamic.

"No, just open it together. No, the President is very concerned about Islam, the President is very concerned about Muslims," he said.

On a separate occasion, General Chairperson of the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Executive Board Yahya Cholil Staquf expressed a similar opinion while suggesting that it is better for the State Civil Apparatus (ASN) to intensify sharing open food to those in need rather than holding a joint opening.

"I think it's important to distribute to the poor, I think it's important. Distribution is open to the poor, for people stuck in traffic jams and so on. You don't have to make it look like we're having a big party to eat," said Yahya, who also visited the Presidential Palace. Jakarta, Friday.

On the other hand, Yahya said that the point of view of Nahdliyin residents tends to be less enthusiastic about participating in open activities together, due to the dense activity in the month of Ramadan.

"If these NU people are actually happy to be invited to open together. We, if we are in NU, the activity after the Maghrib prayer, we are ready for Tarawih, after Tarawih, we can just (can) do activities," he said.

Yahya even joked that he was most afraid of being invited to iftar together every time the month of Ramadan arrived.

"Opening together is happy. I myself am most afraid that if you fast, you are invited to break the fast together, I am the most afraid," he said.

Previously, a letter circulated dated March 21, 2023 with a Cabinet Secretariathead numbered R-38/Seskab/DKK/03/2023 which was confidential, addressed to the Minister of the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet, the Attorney General, the TNI Commander, the National Police Chief and the Head of the Agency/Institution.

The letter contained President Joko Widodo's directive which contained three points, namely:

1. Handling COVID-19 is currently in the transition of the pandemic to endemic, so caution is still needed. 2. In this regard, the implementation of the Joint Iftar activity in the holy month of Ramadan 1444H should be abolished. 3. Minister of Home Affairs to follow up on the directives mentioned above to the Governors, Regents, and Mayors.

The letter was signed by Cabinet Secretary (Seskab) Pramono Anung with a copy to the President and Vice President as a report.

The Cabinet Secretary then on Thursday, March 23, clarified that the letter was addressed only to government ministers/officials and did not apply to the general public.