Indonesian independence celebrations falsely shared as Christmas Day event at Jakarta mosque
- Published on January 8, 2026 at 07:57
- 2 min read
- By AFP Indonesia
Old footage of an event at the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta to commemorate Indonesia's independence has resurfaced in posts falsely claiming it shows Christians celebrating Christmas at the Muslim place of worship and an example of religious tolerance "going too far". A senior mosque official refuted the claim, and the group that organised the event said attendees wore red and white -- the colours of Indonesia's flag -- as a "symbol of love for the country".
"For the first time, Christmas was celebrated at the Istiqlal Mosque. Christians and Muslims were mixed together, hypocrites and wicked. Astaghfirullaah (may God spare me)," reads part of the Indonesian-language caption of a Facebook video shared on December 29, 2025.
"This is what it means by religious tolerance that is going too far."
The nearly four minute video shows people wearing clothing that resembles a Santa Claus costume, singing Indonesia's national anthem.
Christians account for around 11 percent of the population in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation, according to the Pew Research Center (archived link).
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom said in September 2025 that while Indonesia's constitution guarantees religious freedom and religious tolerance is promoted, religious minorities in the country "continue to experience systematic and ongoing discrimination" (archived link).
Local media has also reported on issues faced by religious minorities in 2025 (archived here and here).
The video began circulating after Christmas Day in similar TikTok and Instagram posts.
Users left comments on the posts claiming the country was "broken" and said, "we just have to wait for Allah's punishment if we all remain silent and watch this transgression".
Another comment reads, "Astaghfirullah, the largest mosque in Indonesia turns into a place like this."
But the video is old and does not show a Christmas celebration at the mosque.
AFP previously debunked claims the video showed a Christian congregation singing at the mosque in preparation for a visit to Indonesia by Pope Francis.
Abu Hurairah Abdul Salam, a senior official at the Istiqlal Mosque, told AFP the claim was "an impossible thing" that never happened and said the video was from 2024.
"It is impossible that there was a Christmas celebration at Istiqlal Mosque," he said on January 6.
A September 3, 2024 statement released by the Jagat 'Arsy International Boarding School, which organised the gathering, said it was held on August 31, 2024 to commemorate Indonesia's independence day (archived link).
The statement, provided to AFP via the mosque, also said attendees at the ceremony wore red and white as a "symbol of our love for the country". The Indonesian flag is made up of two horizontal bands of red and white.
The event also included religious sermons, prayers and a rendition of the national anthem.
A keyword search on YouTube found the event was livestreamed on the JAGAT 'ARSY YouTube channel on August 31, 2024, though it has now been removed. Elements seen in the falsely shared video match those seen in the livestream.
Another livestream video published on the same day, which was taken from a different angle, also shows the same event (archived link).
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