President Prabowo attends Eid al-Adha prayers with Indonesian diaspora in Paris
President Prabowo Subianto attended the Eid al-Adha prayers of 1447 Hijriah with the Indonesian diaspora at the Indonesian House in Paris, France, on Wednesday, as part of commemorating the feast of sacrifice and strengthening ties with Indonesians abroad.
The Eid al-Adha prayer session was conducted solemnly, with Indonesian citizens and diaspora members filling the Indonesian House in Paris since morning to perform the congregational prayer alongside the President.
Based on a statement from the Presidential Office’s BPMI in Jakarta on Wednesday, President Prabowo arrived at the prayer site around 8:40 am local time, accompanied by takbir chants, before proceeding to the prayer line to join the congregation in reciting takbir before the Eid prayer commenced.
The Eid al-Adha prayer was led by Fakhruddin Arrozi, a master’s graduate of the International Islamic University in Islamabad, Pakistan, who currently lectures at Muhammadiyah University of Lamongan.
In his sermon, Fakhruddin emphasised that Eid al-Adha encompasses not only a divine dimension but also a humanistic one. He stated that the act of sacrifice serves as a reminder for Muslims to share, preserve their Islamic identity, strengthen family bonds, and reinforce unity, particularly for Muslim communities living abroad as diaspora.
“We are not commanded to sacrifice our children like Prophet Ibrahim (AS), but rather to sacrifice our egos in obedience to Allah’s commands,” said Imam and preacher Fakhruddin Arrozi during his sermon.
The message resonated with the sense of togetherness reflected in the congregational prayer, where Indonesians in France used the Eid al-Adha occasion to strengthen social and spiritual connections while abroad.
After the Eid prayer, President Prabowo met with the congregation, greeting and shaking hands with attendees. The event concluded with a reception and shared meal between the President and the Indonesian community in Paris as part of the Eid al-Adha 1447 Hijriah celebrations. The occasion symbolised the President’s closeness to the Indonesian diaspora and reinforced a sense of unity among Indonesians celebrating Eid away from home.