Police Approve '112' Mass Prayer at Istiqlal Mosque, Ban Political Speeches
Jakarta. The police have approved a proposal from a coalition of Muslim groups to stage a mass prayer at Central Jakarta's Istiqlal Mosque on Saturday, Feb. 11 — an event some have dubbed as the "112" march, on conditions that the event will not feature any political speech.
Previously, the police had banned a proposed march on the capital's main streets of Jalan Jenderal Sudirman and Jalan Thamrin on the same day, which was going to be organized by the hardline group Islamic Defenders Front, or FPI, over security concerns ahead of the Feb. 15 Jakarta gubernatorial election.
After a series of negotiations with several Muslim groups, led by the Indonesian Muslim Forum (FUI), police finally approved the mass prayer at Istiqlal — as long as it stays inside the mosque's grounds and features no political speeches by the participants.
"We've agreed for a mass prayer to be held inside the Istiqlal Mosque on Feb. 11. The police will arrange traffic detours so the participants don't cause unnecessary traffic jams," police spokesman Brig, Gen. Rikwanto told reporters in Jakarta on Thursday (09/02).
He did not say how many people the organizers are expecting at the event.
"Istiqlal can fit up to 100,000 people. The mosque's caretakers have said they will only allow a mass prayer on Feb. 11," Rikwanto said.
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