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Regions told to accommodate differing Idul Fitri prayer dates
Islamic organizations, lawmakers and Cabinet ministers have called on regional administrations accommodate requests to hold prayers at public venues for Idul Fitri dates that differ from those set by the government, amid reports of rejections from various local governments.
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Muslims assemble in front of a church in Malang, East Java, to perform Idul Fitri prayers in June 2018. (JP /Aman Rochman)
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uslim organizations, lawmakers and Cabinet ministers have called on regional administrations accommodate requests to hold Idul Fitri prayers at public venues on dates that differ from those set by the government, amid reports of some local administrations refusing to do so.
Reports emerged earlier this month that the Pekalongan administration in Central Java had denied a request from a local mosque to hold Idul Fitri prayers at the city’s Mataram Field on April 21.
Pekalongan Mayor Afzan Arslan Djunaid said his office was unable to approve the request because it had to “represent the central government”.
Jakarta, however, is yet to decide if the first day of Idul Fitri falls on either April 21 or 22, pending an isbat (confirmation) meeting on the sighting of hilal, the first crescent of the new moon.
The Sukabumi administration later followed suit, rejecting a request from the local branch of Muhammadiyah, the country’s second-largest Muslim organization, to hold prayers at Merdeka Field in the city on April 21.
