NU to hold mass prayer in Surabaya

JAKARTA: Indonesia's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) is planning to hold a public prayer at the Masjid Agung (Grand Mosque) in Surabaya on March 8.

NU chairman Hasyim Muzadi said on Tuesday that his organization had initially planned the mass prayer on March 9 at the Brawijaya Military Command in Surabaya but Brawijaya Military Commander Maj. Gen. A.D. Sikki rejected the request.

"After hearing the rejection from the Brawijaya Military Command, we decided to move the event to Masjid Agung.

"Unfortunately, we cannot hold it on Sunday because street vendors usually clutter the mosque's compound on Sundays. So, we have to change the date to March 8 which will be a Saturday," Hasyim told the press from his office in Central Jakarta. -- JP