Viral Video Shows Residents Holding Prayer Gathering Outside Jokowi's Home; Aide Responds
A video showing dozens of residents sitting cross-legged and reciting prayers of faith (tauhid) outside the home of Indonesia’s seventh president, Joko Widodo (Jokowi), in Solo has gone viral on social media.
In the circulating footage, residents can be seen gathered across nearly the entire street in front of Jokowi’s residence, reciting prayers and invoking blessings for the father of Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) chairman Kaesang Pangarep.
“May he have a long life, may his life be blessed, and all of us from Banyumas fully support him. God willing, he will remain strong in the face of slander and all adversity. Amen,” said one woman in the video.
Jokowi’s aide, Police Commissioner Syarif Fitriansyah, confirmed that the tahlilan (collective prayer gathering) did take place at Jokowi’s residence. He said the event occurred last month, specifically on 18 January 2026.
“Yes, that’s correct — the tahlilan happened on 18 January 2026. We received and acknowledged both the letter and their visit,” Syarif said when contacted by detikcom on Thursday (19 February).
Syarif explained that on the same day, Jokowi had to fly to Jakarta early in the morning to attend the wedding of President Prabowo Subianto’s personal assistant, Agung Suherman. As a result, Jokowi was unable to personally receive the extended family from Hidayatul Khalil Islamic Boarding School in Rancamaya Village, Banyumas Regency, Central Java.
“However, at the same time, Mr Jokowi had to take off early to Jakarta to attend and serve as a witness at the wedding of Mr Prabowo’s personal assistant, Mas Agung Surahman. We had previously informed them of Mr Jokowi’s schedule at that time, but they still decided to come,” he said.
Syarif stated that Jokowi had no objections to the residents’ visit. He added that the former Jakarta governor was not at all disturbed by the tahlilan gathering in front of his residence.
“He was not disturbed in the slightest,” he said.