The Head of Protocol and Public Relations of the Jakarta Istiqlal Mosque, Abu Hurairah Abd Salam, responded to the news that the 212 volume II masses were not allowed to enter the mosque. He emphasized that the photos circulating on social media on Tuesday (21/2/17) morning were hoaxes or lies.

"The news that there were 212 protesters unable to enter Istiqlal is a thousand percent hoax," said Abu, Tuesday (21/2/17).

He explained that on Monday night after Isha there were three group buses that entered the Istiqlal Mosque. They claimed to be a group from Madura Island. The mosque administrators invited them to worship and clean themselves. Furthermore, the mosque administrator coordinated with the group leader who was accompanied by the police. After talking, they then voluntarily left the Istiqlal Mosque.

Abu again explained that in accordance with the procedure, the Istiqlal Mosque outside the month of Ramadan was closed at 21.30 WIB and reopened one hour before the dawn prayer. Meanwhile, the photo of the congregation queuing at the gate of the mosque is a group of pilgrims from outside the city. Abu said they wanted to enter the mosque but the door only opened at 03.45 WIB.

"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 03.45 WIB. We apologize for this," said Abu.