A group of teenagers in Pulogadung, East Jakarta besieged the house of a resident who reported a neighborhood mosque for holding the Taraweeh congregational prayer on Saturday evening, thus violating the city’s Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) protocol enforced to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
A video of the incident has gone viral over the weekend, showing the group causing a great ruckus outside the house while kicking and attempting to tear down the gate.
Disaat seluruh kalangan… #RelawanBergerakLawanCovid
Di satu sudut kota jakarta mengamuk karena salah seorang warga memberikan saran agar tidak melakukan tarawih di masjid.. Memang bini saran yg sangat menyedihkan tapi pahamilah…. Hanya itu yg bisa kita perbuat.. pic.twitter.com/RjwMJYLxw0— DivaCatrii (@DivaCatrii) April 26, 2020
Pulogadung sub-district Head Bambang Pangestu confirmed the incident, saying some teenagers in the neighborhood were angered after having learned that the owner of the house, which is located right next to the mosque, reported the house of worship for still holding the Taraweeh prayer.
“On Thursday, the homeowner took photos and videos of the Taraweeh prayer [at the mosque]. He then reported it to Governor Anies Baswedan via Twitter,” Bambang said, as quoted by Kompas.
Taraweeh is an evening prayer that can only be performed during the holy month of Ramadan. Though it’s not obligatory, it is advisable to perform the prayer in a congregation at the mosque. However, with PSBB regulating that houses of worship must close amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Islamic leaders have urged Muslims to instead perform the Taraweeh prayer at home.
Bambang said that, after the events in the video, local authorities mediated the teenagers and the homeowner, after which they came to an understanding.
“The neighborhood official promised not to let [the mosque hold Taraweeh prayer] again. If it happens again, then officers will act in accordance with the law,” he said.
No charges were reportedly pressed against the teenagers.
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