Foreign National Protests Quran Recitation Sound in NTB; Ministry of Religious Affairs Clarifies Speaker Regulations

The Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) has responded to a viral incident in which a foreign woman went on a rampage in Gili Trawangan hamlet, North Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), after being disturbed by the sound of Quran recitation (tadarus) on the first night of Ramadan. The Ministry affirmed that regulations governing the use of loudspeakers are already in place.

“The use of loudspeakers is actually already guided by a Ministerial Circular (SE) from the Minister of Religious Affairs to ensure shared tranquillity, order, and comfort,” said Thobib Al Asyhar, Head of the Public Relations and Communications Bureau at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, speaking to reporters on Saturday (21/2/2026).

The regulations are set out in Circular Letter Number SE. 05 of 2022 concerning guidelines for the use of loudspeakers at mosques and prayer halls (musala).

Under these regulations, there are two types of loudspeakers: internal and external. Internal speakers are directed inside the mosque or prayer hall, whilst external speakers are directed outward.

External speakers are used, among other purposes, for broadcasting the call to prayer (azan). Quran recitation, however, must use internal speakers.

“The use of loudspeakers during Ramadan, including for tarawih prayers, Ramadan lectures and studies, and Quran recitation, shall use internal speakers,” the circular states.

The Ministry urged the public to follow these guidelines. Thobib said that Quran recitation should ideally use internal speakers.

“So for tadarus, it is best to use internal speakers in accordance with the circular,” he said.

Previously, a video showed the foreign woman shouting in front of a prayer hall whilst residents were reciting the Quran using loudspeakers. Muhammad Husni, the hamlet head (Kadus) of Gili Trawangan, said the woman felt disturbed by the sound of the recitation.

“What she took issue with was the tadarus activity, because she was disturbed by the speaker sound,” he said on Thursday (19/2).

According to Husni, the woman then entered the prayer hall to stop the residents’ activity. She even damaged the microphone being used for the recitation.

“She eventually came to the prayer hall, then immediately went on a tirade and destroyed the microphone and everything else,” he said.