Ramadhan Safari program 1445-H involved 11 sheikhs from Palestine with a Palestinian Humanitarian Fund of 5.2 billion rupiahs collected.

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – Indonesia's National Amil Zakat Agency (BAZNAS) in collaboration with the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) officially closed the Ramadhan Safari program 1445-H, entitled ‘Membasuh Luka Palestina: Ramadhan With Palestine’ ('Washing Palestine's Wounds: Ramadhan With Palestine').

From the Ramadhan Safari program 1445-H involving 11 sheikhs from Palestine, a Palestinian Humanitarian Fund of 5.2 billion rupiahs was collected.

The closing of the Ramadhan Safari was organized in a Gathering and Fast Breaking event with the Indonesian People’s  Consultative Assembly (MPR), MUI and BAZNAS with Palestinian Imams at the MPR’s building, Jakarta, Monday, (April 1).

The event was attended among others by Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Retno Lestari Priansari Marsudi, BAZNAS’ Deputy Chairman H. Mokhamad Mahdum and Deputy General Chairperson of the MUI Dr. Buya Anwar Abbas and MUI’s Deputy General Chairperson Buya Anwar Abbas.

In his speech, H. Mokhamad Mahdum expressed his thanks and highest appreciation to the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, MUI, MPR and Indonesia’s House of Representatives (DPR) that have actively involved themselves in helping implement BAZNAS programs, helping the Palestinian community as well as the sheikhs and imams who were involved in the Ramadhan Safari program.

Mahdum reported that the collection of BAZNAS RI specifically for humanitarian donations for Palestine has so far collected around 230 billion rupiahs contributed by the government, the Indonesian Military Forces (TNI), the Indonesian State Police (Polri), civilians and all the Indonesian people.

"Before the funds from the Ramadhan safari program amounting to 5.2 billion rupiahs, around 230 billion rupiahs had been collected at BAZNA from all elements of our society, civilians, soldiers and the government," he said.

One U.S. dollar = 15.910,55 rupiahs

Mahdum said that the donations collected for Palestine would be distributed in three forms of assistance, the first in the form of emergency response humanitarian assistance, the second in the form of mental rehabilitation assistance and the third in the form of assistance for the rehabilitation of mosques, hospitals and schools in Palestine.

"In all infaq (alms) management, our first principle is Syar'i Safe, that is our way of working. We always look at the fatwa corridors that the MUI provides. The second is Regulatory Safe, we ensure that BAZNAS' steps are in accordance with the applicable legal provisions. The third is ‘is NKRI Safe," he explained. NKRI is the Republic of Indonesia.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi expressed her pride in the stance of the Indonesian government and people regarding the conflict in Palestine in the hope that this stance of defending and helping Palestinians would continue in the future.

"Thank God, Indonesia's position to help and defend the struggle of the Palestinian people, which is identical to the struggle for truth and justice, rights and humanity, remains strong and consistent, and I hope this position would not change in the future until we see the rights of the Palestinian people fulfilled and Palestinian independence realized," she said.

Retno continued, apart from political assistance, humanitarian assistance also continues to be provided by the Indonesian government and people.

"Last Friday the TNI sent additional aid, including parachutes to support the provision of humanitarian aid via air drop and BAZNAS also prepared other needs to support operations or carry out aid by air," she noted.

Meanwhile, aid via land from both government and non-government has exceeded 4,400 tones, and this amount includes aid from the Indonesian people, Retno added.

On the same occasion, the Chair of the MUI for Foreign Relations and International Cooperation, Prof. Sudarnoto Abdul Hakim explained that the Ramadhan Safari program with 11 Palestinian sheikhs has succeeded in collecting donations for Palestinian humanitarian aid amounting to 5.2 billion rupiahs which was channeled through BAZNAS.

"Thank God, this Ramadhan safari program is running smoothly in the eleven regions we have determined, namely Riau, Riau Islands, Capital Jakarta, Bekasi, Depok, Banten, West Java, Bogor, Central Java, South Kalimantan, West Kalimantan and South Sulawesi," he said.

Sudarnoto, who also acts as chairman of the organizing committee, added that there are three objectives of the Ramadhan safari program with 11 Palestinian sheikhs.

First, strengthen relations between Indonesia and Palestine, provide information to the public regarding the current situation in Palestine and encourage the public and congregation to provide assistance to the Palestinian people.

"The aim of this program is to strengthen brotherly relations between Indonesia and Palestine through 11 Palestinian imams and sheikhs. Our imams are each invited to serve in 11 regions for 20 days starting 1 Ramadhan to become prayer leaders (imams) in mosques. They are muftis, academics and Hafizul Quran," he said.

Second, conveying information about the Palestinian situation by imams through Ramadan sermons. Third, encourage mosque congregations to provide humanitarian assistance to Palestinians through the BAZNAS account of the Republic of Indonesia.

Reporting by Indonesia Window