Isa Zega Denies Being Refused to Be a Congregant for Tarawih Prayer in Prison

Kapanlagi.com - Celebrity Instagrammer Isa Zega denied being refused to be a congregant while performing Tarawih prayer at the Malang Class IIA Women’s Prison. He emphasized that he cannot pray in congregation with a female imam.

"There is no refusal, that's wrong. The prison is very considerate of Mami (Isa Zega). Mami can't if the imam is a woman. There, the imam is a woman," said Isa Zega after attending a hearing at the District Court (PN) of Kepanjen, Malang Regency, on Tuesday (11/3/2025).

1. Tarawih Prayer and Regulations in Prison

Isa Zega © KapanLagi.com/Darmadi Sasongko

Isa exemplifies the tarawih prayer in Makkah where the imam is a man, allowing men, women, including himself, to be part of the congregation. However, it is not possible if the imam is a woman, in which case the congregation must be female.

"In the Holy City of Makkah, Madinah, the imam is a man. So we, men and women, can be one (congregation)," he stated.

2. Proposed Changes and Responses from the Prison

Isa Zega © KapanLagi.com/Darmadi Sasongko

Isa admitted to having a different opinion regarding the imam for prayer being male, but this has not yet been fully accommodated by the prison. He also suggested that there should be a distance from the imam to the congregation if a male imam can be provided.

"I propose that the rows of the congregation and the imam be different (in distance). However, the imam should be in line, just a little bit forward (if the imam is male)," he said.

3. The Importance of Worship in the Month of Ramadan

Isa Zega © KapanLagi.com/Darmadi Sasongko

Since the proposal was not accepted, Isa currently chooses to pray alone. Because it is indeed not yet possible to pray in congregation with others.

"In the first week, we still prayed in congregation. After that, we did not. (But) now I pray alone," he stated.

4. Reflections from the Experience in the Prison

Iza said that the proposal is very possible, because previously he also proposed that hair dye must be black. But in the end, it was fulfilled by the prison authorities.

"Similarly, over there, hair dye must be black. I proposed it, I have performed the five daily prayers, I have improved myself. I do not want my hair to be dyed black. That's how it is. No prison rejected it," he explained.

5. The Case of Isa Zega

Isa Zega is undergoing trial in a defamation case against the owner of the cosmetic company MS Glow, Shandy Purnamasari. In the previous hearing, on Tuesday (25/2/2025), the Public Prosecutor (JPU) charged Isa with a potential sentence of six years in prison.

According to the JPU, Isa is suspected of intentionally spreading electronic information that harms the complainant through the Instagram account @zega_real and TikTok @mami_online. A video posted by Isa on October 17, 2024, allegedly contains defamatory elements against Shandy Purnamasari.

(kpl/dar/phi)