Indonesia Highlights: Indonesia Begins Eid al-Fitr Celebrations on May 13 | Indonesia Gives Nod for Reopening of Migrant Workers’ Placement in Taiwan | Covid Positive Filipino Crew Member Dies in Indo

KOMPAS.com - Muslims in Indonesia will begin celebrating the country’s biggest festive holiday Eid al-Fitr on Thursday, May 13 to mark the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

Indonesia’s Manpower Ministry plans to reopen the placement of migrant workers abroad, especially in Taiwan but under special conditions to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Meanwhile, a Filipino crew member has died at a hospital in Cilacap, Indonesia’s Central Java, after he had tested positive for Covid-19, an official confirmed on Tuesday, May 11.

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Indonesia Begins Eid al-Fitr Celebrations on May 13

Muslims in Indonesia will begin celebrating the country’s biggest festive holiday Eid al-Fitr on Thursday, May 13 to mark the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

The announcement was made by Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas after an isbat (confirmation) meeting on Tuesday, May 11 to determine the first day of Syawal month.

“The Islamic Calendar Unification Team at the Religious Affairs Ministry explains that the height of the new moon throughout Indonesia is below the horizon, which ranges from minus 5.6 to minus 4.4 degrees,” Yaqut told a press conference.

The explanation, he added, was also based on rukyat (lunar movement observations) which was conducted by the ministry’s representatives at 88 designated points across Indonesia. The new moon was not sighted. Meanwhile, referring to hisab (astronomical calculations), the first day of Syawal 1442 Hijrah corresponding to May 13, 2021, the minister said.

“So, on Wednesday, Muslims in Indonesia will still observe the fasting month of Ramadan, while takbiran [the eve of Eid al-Fitr celebration] will take place on Wednesday evening,” he said.

The teleconference meeting saw the attendance of the minister of Religious Affairs and his deputy Zainut Tauhid Sa’adi, deputy chair of the House commission on social affairs TB Ace Hasan Sadzily and chairman of Indonesia Ulema Council KH Abdullah Jaidi. Also present were Director General of Islamic Community Guidance Kamaruddin Amin, foreign envoys, and other officials.

(Writer: Sania Mashabi | Editor: Diamanty Meiliana)

Source: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2021/05/11/19493991/pemerintah-tetapkan-lebaran-2021-jatuh-pada-13-mei-ini-hasil-sidang-isbat.