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Political, polygamy messages take center stage in some Idul Fitri speeches
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Kudus regent Musthofa (second left, front row) walks to Kudus grand mosque, Central Java, on Sunday morning to take part in the Idul Fitri mass prayer.
(Tribunnews.com/Rifqi Gozali)
W
hile patriotism and nationalistic values were the main topics of the Idul Fitri sermon at Jakarta’s Istiqlal mosque, Southeast Asia’s largest Islamic house of worship, some regional heads across the archipelago used the moment of Idul Fitri to convey a series of rather unusual messages, ranging from their political ambitions to the bane of polygamy.
Muslims at Kudus Grand Mosque in Central Java had just finished their Idul Fitri prayer when local regent Musthofa seized the chance to convey his ambition to run for Central Java governor in the election next year.
"I seek your blessing here because I want to run for Central Java governor in the 2018 election," said Musthofa after delivering an Idul Fitri sermon on pluralism at the mosque, as quoted by tribunnews.com.
Musthofa is currently serving his second consecutive term in office, which is due to end next year.
Meanwhile, Bandung Mayor Ridwan Kamil, a social media aficionado, told Idul Fitri masses gathering at the Gelora Bandung Lautan Api stadium in the city that it was better for married men in Bandung to not commit polygamy.
Ridwan, a 2018 West Java gubernatorial election hopeful, said married men should not practice polygamy in order to give thousands of unmarried men in the city a chance to find their future wives.
"I call on married men here to not commit polygamy. Please have pity for those men who have yet to find a partner in life," said Ridwan, who frequently makes humorous postings on his Instagram account, during his speech prior to the prayer. (mos/ipa)
