Social media this morning was enlivened by the circulation of photos of participants from the 212th volume 2 demonstration unable to enter the Istiqlal Mosque. In the scattered photos, it can be seen that there are groups lining up in front of the Istiqlal entrance gate.

The Head of Protocol and Public Relations of the Istiqlal Mosque, Abu Hurairah Abd Salam, said that the news that the 212 volume 2 crowd was stuck at the gate was a hoax. "The news that there were 212 protesters unable to enter Istiqlal is a thousand percent hoax," said Abu when confirmed, Tuesday (21/2/2017).

According to Abu, indeed on Monday night, after Isha there were three group buses that entered the Istiqlal Mosque. They claimed to be a group from Madura Island. Mosque administrators, said Abu, invited them to worship and clean themselves. The Istiqlal Mosque administrator then coordinated with the group leader accompanied by the police.

"After talking that they then voluntarily left Istiqlal," said Abu.

Then according to the procedure, the Istiqlal mosque, outside the month of Ramadan, is closed at 21.30 WIB. "According to the SOP, the Istiqlal Mosque is closed every day at 09.30 WIB and reopens one hour before the dawn prayer, at around 3:45 WIB," said Abu.

Regarding the photo, there was a queue of worshipers at the Istiqlal gate, Abu said it was a group of pilgrims from outside the city who were about to enter Istiqlal. The manager also apologized if they were queuing at the gate, because the door was only opened at 03.45 WIB or an hour before the Fajr prayer.

"In the morning before dawn, Tuesday, February 21 2017, there were several pilgrims from outside the city who were about to enter the Istiqlal Mosque and they arrived before the doors of the Istiqlal Mosque opened at 3:45 WIB. We apologize for this," said Abu.

The implementation of the Fajr prayer at the Istiqlal Mosque today, said Abu, went well, with the imam, Mr. Ust. Salim Ghazali. The number of worshipers is about 240 people, consisting of, 170 men and 70 women.