REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SEMARANG -- The Semarang Kauman Grand Mosque management stated they wanted the place of worship to be free from political activities. Therefore, they filed a report against presidential candidate number 02, Prabowo Subianto to Election Supervisory Board (Bawaslu) on alleged politicizing masjid.
"We have submitted the chronology to Bawaslu of Semarang," said Chairman of the Semarang Grand Mosque, KH Hanief Ismail, in Semarang, on Thursday (Feb 14).
According to Hanief, Gerindra Party administrators came to Kauman mosque two days ago. One of them said that Prabowo wanted to perform Friday prayers at Kauman mosque on February 15.
Hanief said the management welcomed Prabowo to have congregational Friday prayer at the masjid. He explained that every Muslim may pray at Kauman mosque.
However, someone informed him about circulation of invitation to join Friday prayer with Prabowo. The mosque management immediately stated their objection as they feared that mosques to be used for political purposes.
Hanief said, Bawaslu Semarang has not made a written statement to respond their report. However, Bawaslu officials promised them that supervisors will be sent to see the conditions at the Kauman Mosque on Friday (Feb 15).
"Don't make mosques -as a place to unite the ummah- becomes a place for splitting the ummah, it should not be happened," said Hanief.
Republika.co.id found one of the pamphlets on Friday prayer invitation with the candidate number 02. The leaflet says, "Please Attend!! Friday Prayers with Prabowo Subianto on Friday, February 15 2019 at Kauman Mosque, Semarang." There was a logo of the Leading Millennial of Prabowo- Sandi (MANTAPS) organization in the pamphlets.
Director of Materials and Debates of National Winning Body (BPN) Prabowo-Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, Sudirman Said said he was concerned about the ban against Prabowo. It brought back bitter memories of his childhood in 1960s, when people were forbidden to pray in certain mosques.
"I am concerned about this incident, reminiscent of my childhood," Sudirman said in a press release received by Republika.co.id on Thursday (Feb 14).
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