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GEMA INDONESIA EDISI KE-2/2020

Virtual Activities to Celebrate Fasting Month of

Ramadhan and Eid el Fitr

ue to Covid-19 pandemic and backgrounds meet each oth-
in Italy, celebration of the Furthermore, at the end of the fast- er with the purpose to maintain
DMoslem festivals including ing month, on 24 May 2020, the and preserve good relations and
the holy fasting month of Ramad- Embassy has also organised cele- harmonies. The word ‘Halal Biha-
han as well as Eid-el Fitr were bration of Eid-el Fitr (Festival of lal’ derives from Arabic language
quite different from previous years. Breaking the Fast) through virtual which usually translated into ‘to
This year, the Embassy has organ- platform (Zoom and FB live). In accept’ or ‘to forgive each other’.
ised those celebrations through a doing so, all activities were con- This year virtual Halal bi Halal
virtual “zoom” platform, in order ducted virtually, in line with the was also conducted in conjunc-
to comply and to maintain to the health and safety protocols. tion with the celebration of the
safety and health protocols. birth of Indonesian state idology,
Limited number of Embassy staffs Pancasila, on the 1st of June. More
During the fasting month of Ra- together with Ambassador Esti than 50 Indonesians living in Italy,
madhan 2020, the Embassy has Andayani and Deputy Chief of San Marino, Malta and Cyprus at-
organised several activities under Mission George Lantu came to the tended the event, including several
the program called “Web-Rah- Residence of Ambassador and the Indonesian crews of Italian cruise
mah” (We will be better- Ramad- activities were broadcasted virtu- ships and Indonesian Dìasporas.
han Penuh Berkah/ A Blessed Ra- ally. All staffs arriving at the Resi- Also attended the event were Indo-
madhan). Those several activities dence were checked by body ther- nesian Honorary Consuls in Italy,
including: virtual sermons and mo-scanning, washing their hands -Mr. Giuseppe Testa (Naples), Mr.
lectures on Islamic teachings (six with hand sanitizer, wearing mask Ivo Guidi (Genova) and Mr. Jacopo
days a week), virtual children pro- and gloves in all activities as well as Cappucio (Florence). Several video
gram on learning Holy Qur’an (ev- maintaining physical distance. messages from Indonesian com-
ery Saturday), virtual programs munities in Italy as well as from In-
for women including group recit- The program started at 8:00 a.m. donesian Honorary Consuls were
ing Qur’an and sermons (Monday, with takbiran online for around 30 aired during this virtual event.
Wednesday and Friday) and other minutes, followed by performing
activities. of Eid Al-Fitr Prayer in the Resi- In those several activities, Ambas-
dence that was led by Colonel Wa- sador Esti Andayani highlighted
To support these activities, the chyad, Defense Attache of the In- the importance for Indonesia com-
Embassy has invited several In- donesian Embassy in Rome. Other munities here to maintain and to
donesian lecturers based in Indo- participants were also performing strengthen the spirit of unity and
nesia and Egypt. Those were: Dr. the prayer with their family from share assistance and help each oth-
Asyhar Kholil, Lc, MA (Direc- their respective home. Following er during this trying time. She also
tor for Postgraduate of UNSIQ/ this activity, virtual Eid el-Fitr Ser- acknowledged the importance for
Qur’an Science Islamic University mon was held online at 08.45, con- the society to obey all health and
of Wonosobo- Indonesia), Dr. Ah- ducted by Mr. Danang Waskito, safety protocols, as part of “our
mad Ichwani, Lc, MA (Alumni of MA (Counsellor of the Indonesian own responsibility to help society
Al Azhar University Egypt), and Embassy). In his sermon he un- and government in dealing with
Hj. Nura Fajria, Lc, M.Ag (lecturer derlined the importance of taking Covid-19”. She believed that after
of UNSIQ). lessons from Covid-19 pandemic the covid-19 pandemic is over,-
situation in connection with the with all repercussion impacts may
In this connection, the Embassy celebration of Eid el Fitr, which is have-, we can take valuable lessons
has also commemorated virtu- often been regarded as “the victo- from it to transform everyone to
al celebration of Nuzulul Quran rious day”. be a better, stronger, healthier and
(Revelation of Quran Day) through wiser one.
virtual platform on Friday (May To close series of celebrations of
15, 2020). In this activity, sermon Eid-el Fitr, the Embassy finally With regard to Muslim population
and lectures are delivered by Dr. conducted a very Indonesian tra- in Italy, based on data from the Sta-
Ahmad Ichwani, Lc, MA from Cai- dition of “Halal bi Halal” event tistica, the number of Muslim com-
ro, Egypt, while around 50 partic- on 1 June 2020, through virtual munities in Italy in 2019 reached
ipants accessed the platform from platform. Halal bi Halal is an event around 1.6 million (around 2.6%
various locations in Indonesia and which is conducted after Eid el Fitr of the total population of Italy), in
Italy. celebration where Indonesian so- which they live in a harmonious
cieties regardless of their religion society in a very conducive situa-

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