The restoration of the Jakarta Islamic Center in Koja, North Jakarta, which was damaged by a fire on October 19, 2022, will be funded by the Saudi Kingdom government.

Bali (Indonesia Window) – Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Mohammad Bin Salman announced on Wednesday (Nov. 16) that his country would fund the restoration project of the Jakarta Islamic Center in Koja, North Jakarta, following a fire that occurred on Oct. 19.

The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said that the Saudi Crown Prince's announcement confirms his concern and interest in Islamic centers in all countries because they have an important role in the education of the younger generation and the spread of tolerant Islam.

The Islamic centers also carry messages of peace, moderation and dialogue.

The Jakarta Islamic Center (JIC) covers an area of ​​109,435 square meters and comprises a number of facilities, including a 2,200 square meter mosque, which can accommodate more than 20,000 worshippers, in addition to a research study center and conference rooms.

Fire

There were no casualties in the fire that engulfed the Jakarta Islamic Center building last October, but the dome of the JIC Grand Mosque was completely engulfed in flames.

Head of JIC Management Muhammad Subki said, when the fire occurred, the mosque was in the process of renovation, so it is closed for worship activities.

"Actually, this main worship room has not been used for a month because it is being renovated. So indeed for worship activities, we have evacuated it to the ground floor below the main floor (2nd floor)," Subki said at JIC, Thursday (Oct. 20).

He explained that, the renovation this time was not in the form of overhauling the dome framework, but repairing the dome layer. "Renovations only change the layers. Starting from the inner layer with several layers, there are under layers, plywood, and so on. We only peel off the layers, not change the framework,"  Subki explained.

Reporting by Indonesia Window