Government declares Idul Fitri to fall Jan. 8<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government announced on Thursday evening
\nthat Idul Fitri would fall on Saturday, but two small
\norganizations in Semarang and Surabaya decided to celebrate the
\npost-fasting month holiday one day earlier.<\/p>\n
The government's announcement was made after a meeting of
\nMinister of Religious Affairs Tolchah Hasan and religious experts
\nand leaders from various Muslim groups. The meeting was called
\nafter the minister received reports from religious groups
\nthroughout the country on the sighting of the moon.<\/p>\n
Representatives from Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Muhammdiyah, the
\nIndonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) and other influential
\norganizations like Persis, Al-Irsyad, Dewan Dakwah Islamiyah
\nIndonesia and Tarbiyah attended the meeting, which is called
\nIsbat.<\/p>\n
Muslims should fast from dawn to dusk for a full period of 30
\ndays during the Ramadhan fasting month.<\/p>\n
Many residents in Semarang, the capital of Central Java, are
\nset to celebrate Idul Fitri on Friday following an announcement
\nissued by the Al-Misykah Islamic Teaching Institute. It said a
\nglobal ru'yat virtual observation in the Middle East concluded
\nthat Idul Fitri in the year 1420 Hijriah would fall on Friday.<\/p>\n
\"The announcement is also an invitation for people to attend
\nthe Idul Fitri morning prayer (Ied) in the parking lot of Raden
\nSaleh Cultural Park,\" Abdullah, the institute director, said on
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
Abdullah said some residents of Jepara, Surakarta, Kudus and
\nYogyakarta would also celebrate Idul Fitri on Friday.<\/p>\n
Jamaah Muslim Al Ihtikam organization in Surabaya, East Java,
\nalso declared Idul Fitri would fall on Friday. Some 1,000 members
\nof the organization, mostly students, will hold a mass prayer at
\nKONI field in the Darmahusada area.<\/p>\n
The Central Java chairman of MUI, Ahmad Daroji, said the two
\ngroups' used inaccurate calculations. He urged people to follow
\nthe government's decision on the matter.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the spokesman of Central Java's religious affairs
\nminister office, Mukhtar Hadi, said the government would not
\nmeddle in how people chose to practice their faith.<\/p>\n
\"If there are residents who believe that Idul Fitri falls on
\nFriday, so be it.\" He added that the government served only as a
\nfacilitator in religious matters. (har\/edt\/nur\/prb)<\/p>",
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