Jakarta – Religious leaders have played a very crucial role during the COVID-19 pandemic. Presidential Chief of Staff Dr. Moeldoko calls on Islamic religious leaders to strengthen their capacity as the community mediators to respond to the upcoming Ramadan fasting month and Eid Al-Fitr 1443 H.

The calls were voiced through an online coordination meeting welcoming the Holy Month of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, involving the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK) Muhadjir Effendy and Islamic religious leaders, in Jakarta on Monday (28/3).

“We shall not be worried as the government has allowed the people to perform Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr. In order to make Indonesia’s success story in combating the COVID-19 pandemic to be prominent, religious leaders are expected to continue to educate the people about health protocols,” said Moeldoko.

The former general also appreciated the role of religious leaders who have been actively involved in assisting the government in handling the pandemic situation in Indonesia as well as providing religious guidance and fatwas (legal opinions) for believers to tackle COVID-19.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Home Affairs Instruction (Inmendagri) No. 18/2022 has regulated the room capacity in houses of worship as followed: Houses of worship in areas with PPKM level 3 status are only allowed to have a capacity of 50 percent, PPKM level 2 has a maximum capacity of 75 percent and PPKM level 1 is allowed to have a capacity of up to 100 percent.

In addition, the Minister of Religious Affairs has issued a Circular No. 4/2022 which regulates the maximum duration of religious lectures up to 15 minutes. Houses of worship’s administrators are obliged to oversee the implementation of health protocols in the building.

Religious leaders from major Islamic organizations in Indonesia also welcomed the government’s invitation to collaborate. They also appreciated the government’s attention to the role of religious leaders in handling COVID-19.

“One of the main responsibilities for the mosque is to provide masks. So, I hope the government can help the community with the masks supplies. We’ll continue to disseminate the importance of COVID-19 vaccine booster shots to the people, so that the government may be able to designate the mosque as one of the vaccine booster centers,” said PBNU Chairman, KH Ahmad Fahrur Rozi.