The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) of Tangerang chapter  has appealed to citizens to offer Eid-al-Adha prayers at home amid a surge in COVID-19 infections, which has prompted the government to impose emergency community activities restrictions (PPKM).

"Seeing the (spread of) COVID-19 in Tangerang, we, the MUI leadership, have asked everyone to offer Eid Al-Adha prayer at home," MUI Tangerang secretary Amin Munawar said on Monday.

Highlighting the Circular Letter of the Ministry of Religious Affairs No. 17 2021 on Temporary Restrictions on Worship in Places of Worship, Takbir Night, Eid Al-Adha Prayer, and Qurban Implementation Technical Guides 1442 H/2021 during PPKM, Tangerang City Mayor Arief R Wismansyah said he has also issued a Circular Letter in this regard.

COVID-19 cases are on the rise in Tangerang city, with bed occupancy rates (BOR) in hospitals reaching 87.3 percent, he said.

"Confirmed COVID-19 cases in Tangerang are more than one thousand and have not shown any significant drop," he added.

Tangerang City has prohibited Eid prayers in mosques, mushalas, or places where crowding can potentially occur, H Samsudin from the Ministry of Religious Affairs Office in Tangerang City  said. The measure is in accordance with the Circular Letter from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, he added.

Apart from prohibiting Eid prayers in places of worship, mosque caretakers have said they will make efforts to prevent crowding during qurban from Dzulhijjah 11 to 13.

"This policy does not mean that (the people) are not allowed to do Eid prayer. (You) may do it with (your) nuclear families at home," Samsudin said. (Antaranews)