February 20, 2026
JAKARTA – The Jakarta administration has prohibited restaurant raids commonly carried out by members of certain mass organizations during daylight hours in the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan, citing the need to maintain public order and religious tolerance.
Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung said the prohibition was intended to ensure a peaceful environment for all residents during the holy month, which started this week.
“As Governor, I am responsible for [ensuring public order]. I do not give permission for such raids,” Pramono said on Saturday. He noted that the city was also hosting Lunar New Year celebrations, which fall close to Ramadan, reflecting Indonesia’s religious and cultural diversity.
Indonesia is home to the world’s largest Muslim population, with around 242 million Muslims making up roughly 80 percent of the country’s more than 280 million people.
The nation also officially recognizes six religions, namely Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism, and celebrates a wide range of cultural and religious festivals throughout the year.
Separately, the Governor’s special staff for public communications, Cyril Raoul “Chico” Hakim said the move aimed to strengthen tolerance and mutual respect, while maintaining public order “so that Ramadan can be a comfortable experience for all residents.”
Suci, who runs a warteg (warung tegal, a food outlet serving traditional Javanese dishes) in Kebon Kacang, Central Jakarta, said her business will operate normally during Ramadan, though the windows will be curtained during daylight hours to respect those fasting.
“There will be a slight change during Ramadan. The shop is busiest only around sahur and iftar. It is still allowed to open, but the front windows will be covered out of respect for those who are fasting,” Suci told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
A resident of Kebon Kacang, Pajiwo, said that while he was aware of reports of raids by local mass organizations, such incidents had mostly occurred outside the capital.
“It’s been a long time since a sweep like that happened here,” Pajiwo said. “For me personally, the [eatery owners] are just trying to make a living. Those who are fasting should do so, and those who aren’t don’t have to.”
Previous Post reports noted that such raids had taken place in Muslim-majority cities, including Padang in West Sumatra, where local authorities sometimes facilitated the actions through the public order agency (Satpol PP).
In response to Pramono’s recent sweeping ban, Deputy Religious Affairs Minister Muhammad Syafi’i expressed support for respecting other religious communities.
“Those who are fasting should also recognize that not everyone in the country is fasting. Restaurants may continue to operate to serve them,” he said on Tuesday. (vdy)