July 06, 2016•Update: July 06, 2016
By Ainur Rohmah
TUBAN, Indonesia
Millions of Indonesians have disregarded the threat of terrorism to flock to fields and mosques in their best outfits early Wednesday, to attend Eid al-Fitr prayers across the world’s most populous Muslim nation.
As Eid fell, an imam instructed the thousands gathered at his mosque in the capital Jakarta to show affection to each other and avoid violence.
"One of the most important characteristics of Muslims is how far they are able to preserve their words and deeds not to oppress others," state news agency Antara quoted Bambang Irawan as saying, the day after a suicide bomber tried to detonate an explosive device outside police headquarters in Central Java.
"They should instead be able to maintain safety and peace," he said, stressing the importance of Islam as a carrier of mercy for the whole of human kind.
President Joko Widodo has condemned Tuesday's violence in which the 30-year-old bomber died and a police officer was injured, and has called for Indonesians to remain calm but vigilant.
A bomb squad has combed the area around the police headquarters for explosives, and extra security precautions had been put in place for Wednesday's Eid prayers.
Following the morning prayer, people across Indonesia asked family members, neighbors and friends for forgiveness for any wrongdoing, and then gathered to eat traditional dishes.
Delicacies such as “opor ayam” (chicken curry), “sambal goreng ati” (spicy beef liver) and “semur daging” (stewed meat) were served up, along with “ketupat” (a dumpling made from rice packed inside a diamond-shaped container woven from palm leaf).
Widodo then delivered a congratulatory Eid message to all citizens in a YouTube address, asking them to welcome the holiday with a zest for work.
"Let us celebrate this victory with morale, work together to build the nation, work together to build the country," he said.
Following Tuesday's blast, National Police spokesperson Agus Rianto said security has been tightened at police stations, following a rise in attacks targeting police posts and offices.
"We cannot close police stations from the public because we have to serve the community. Alternatively, we have tightened security prior to entrances to the buildings," Rianto was quoted as saying by kompas.com.
"It can be seen from some bombings lately that [terrorists] often target the police stations or other offices."
