NU Supreme Leader Calls forโฃ Yahya‘s Resignation Following Pro-Israel Speaker Controversy
Jakarta,Indonesia โ- November 24,2023 – The supreme leaderโ of Nahdlatul ulama (NU),indonesia’s โlargestโ Muslim association,has requested Yahya Cholil Staquf,the current NU executive board chairman,to resign following widespread criticism over his invitation to aโ speaker with ties to Israel.The move comes amid โฃmountingโ concerns regarding โขthe financial management of the NU executive boardโค under Staquf’s โขleadership.
The requestโข for Staquf’s โฃresignationโ marks a notable escalation in a controversyโ that has deeply divided the organization and sparked national debate. NU, withโ its tensโ of millions of adherents, holds considerable political and social โขinfluence in Indonesia, and its stance on the Israeli-Palestinian โconflict isโ closely watched.โค Theโ invitation to the speaker, Eyal David,โ a co-founder โฃof โIsrael-based think โขtank Nascent Leaders, at a NU-affiliated event earlier thisโค month, drew condemnation from various groups who accused Staquf of normalizing relations with Israel despite Indonesia’s long-held support for Palestinian statehood.
Beyond the diplomatic fallout, theโ NU’s advisory council has also voiced serious reservations about the financial practices โof Staquf’s administration. The council allegesโค potential violations of Islamic principles, national laws, and NU’s โขinternal regulations, warning that such mismanagement could jeopardize the organization’sโฃ legal โคstanding. Detailsโ of the alleged financial irregularities have not beenโ publicly disclosed, but the concerns add another layerโ of complexity to the situation.
The future of NU leadership remains uncertain as Staquf considers the supreme leader’s request.โ The organization is expected to hold an internalโข meetingโข to discuss the โคmatter further and determine the next steps, potentially including an unusual congress โto elect a new โขchairman. This internal upheaval occurs โas Indonesia prepares for presidential elections in February 2024, addingโค a political dimension toโ the unfolding events.