Wirogunan Prison Celebrates Eid al-Adha with Inmates

YOGYAKARTA (ANTARA) – The Yogyakarta Class IIA Prison, also known as Wirogunan Prison, has held Eid al-Adha animal sacrifice ceremonies with inmates, inviting musicians to entertain the prisoners.

Prison Chief Marjiyanto stated on Thursday in Yogyakarta that the prison’s activities included communal Eid al-Adha prayers and a three-day animal sacrifice ceremony.

“Preparations for Eid prayers and animal sacrifice at Yogyakarta Prison were made well in advance, including the livestock, Eid prayer arrangements, and the decision to hold the event at the prison’s tennis court, which is sufficiently spacious,” Marjiyanto said.

“Sacrifices were carried out over three days: one cow and three goats on the first day, one cow and four goats on the second, and one cow and one goat on the third,” he added.

“The annual animal sacrifice is part of spiritual guidance for inmates, providing them the opportunity to fulfil Allah’s commandments,” he continued.

“The significance of Eid al-Adha is to obey Allah’s commands and emulate the prophets,” he said.

“During the sacrifice, the prison collaborated with relevant authorities to conduct post-mortem checks on the animals’ organs—including liver, spleen, and lungs—to ensure the meat was safe for consumption,” he added.

Ardi Nurdin, guitarist from the band Jikustik, who was invited to entertain the prisoners, expressed his joy at being able to witness the inmates’ activities firsthand.

“This is my first time entering Yogyakarta Prison; it’s far from what I expected—the atmosphere resembles a residential area,” said the man, commonly known as Dadik Jikustik.

He added that prison activities should mirror those in the wider community, such as religious ceremonies held at the prison mosque.

“I was delighted to meet the fellow inmates; they were enthusiastic about cutting the sacrificial meat together,” he said.