REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Several hundred Muslims in Gaza, Palestine, performed prayers for late BJ Habibie, Indonesia's third president, at the Great Mosque of Umar, Jabalia City, North Gaza.
"The prayer is aimed to respect and honor Habibie. Hundreds of Muslim in Gaza also raised their hands to pray for him. Hopefully his soul get the best place in the sight of Allah SWT," Indonesian volunteer who settled in the Gaza Strip, Abdillah Onim, said when contacting Antara in Jakarta on Sunday.
The prayer was led by a senior Palestinian cleric Sheikh Mahmud Dardona. On the occasion, Sheikh Mahmud Dardona on behalf of the Palestinian Muslims expressed deep condolences to the family of Habibie, Indonesian government and all Indonesian people over the death of this internationally-recognised scientist and technocrat.
In addition to performing a prayer, the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip also participated in the national mourning day to pay their last respect to Habibie by hoisting the Red and White flag at half mast. The raising of the Red and White flag at half mast has been centered at the Palestinian international dock in Gaza City since Thursday, September 12, 2019, Abdillah Onim said.
The 83-year-old former president passed away at 6.05 p.m. Wednesday (Sept 11) at the Gatot Subroto Army Hospital (RSPAD) where he was being treated by the best doctors, including those from the Presidential Doctors Team, since September 1. The former president was buried at the heroes cemetery with full military honors on Thursday (Sept 12). Along the way from the mourning house in Patra Kuningan to the National Heroes Cemetery in Kalibata, South Jakarta, numerous people stood on the road shoulders to pay their last respects to Habibie.