Kalla Asks Protesters Not to Hold Friday Prayers on Streets

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Vice President Jusuf Kalla asked people not to conduct Friday prayers in the streets. Kalla's statement is a response to protesters' plan on having their Friday prayers in Jakarta's main roads during a rally scheduled for December 2, 2016.

He said that conducting Friday prayers on the streets will disrupt public economic activities and cause traffic disturbances. 

"Friday prayers should be done in mosques," Kalla said in Jakarta Monday, November 28.  

According to him, there are only two types of prayers recommended to be done outdoors; the Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha prayers, as well as Istisqa (asking for rain) prayers. Those, he said, are done in open fields, not in a common public space such as the streets. 

"So please do it in mosques; there are many mosques in Jakarta," he said.

A number of Muslim community organizations will hold another rally on Friday, December 2, 2016. The rally is dubbed "defending Islam" and is linked to the blasphemy charge against Jakarta Governor's candidate and incumbent Basuki Purnama Tjahaja a.k.a. Ahok. The protesters are planning to hold Friday prayers at Jakarta's main streets where they will be staging their protests.

Furthermore, the Vice President said there are no restrictions for participants from outside Jakarta who wanted to join the action. The government does not prohibit anyone from voicing out their opinions and arguments, he said, but asserted that the government will not be pressured by rallies into making certain decisions and actions.  

Regarding Ahok's case, Kalla asked the public to wait for the legal process. "If you want to say something, do it peacefully. The government will certainly accept dialogues," said Kalla.

ADITYA BUDIMAN