VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

photo : radar

After months of praying at home, Muslims in Jakarta are now able to perform the first Friday prayers in mosques, following the transitional period in the capital city, that starts to ease restrictions in public spaces in the capital city. Many Jakartans have also shared their experience participating in Friday prayers with the additional physical distancing measure and health protocols trough social media. President Joko Widodo also performed the prayer in the Baiturrahim mosque situated in the presidential palace complex. Governor Anies Baswedan performed Friday prayer in the Fatahillah mosque located in the City Hall compound To prevent overcrowding in mosques during the weekly prayer, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) had issued a fatwa allowing the prayer to be conducted in turns in two groups, rather than the usual simultaneous prayer at noon. Besides mosques, the Jakarta Administration has also allowed other houses of worship to operate during the transition phase. The Jakarta archdiocese, for example, had been gearing up to open its churches by preparing a new worship protocol following the Religious Affairs Ministers’ announcement that houses of worship would be gradually reopened//JP