Power play shakes NU leadership

Indonesia's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), is facing another severe rift among its leadership after chairman Yahya Cholil Staquf was dismissed by the organization's supreme council, the Syuriah. Although his close associations with pro-Israel figures have been publicly cited as the cause, the underlying motive behind the firing appears to stem from intense political rivalry among NU elites.

According to the minutes of the Syuriah meeting held on Nov. 20 in Jakarta, 37 of the 53 board members requested that Yahya resign from his position. The meeting notes stated that if he failed to step down within three days, the body would move to sack him altogether. This decision effectively shifts NU's leadership to Miftachul Akhyar.

The Syuriah is NU’s advisory and supreme council composed of senior scholars and led by the rais aam (supreme leader), a position currently held by Miftachul. Yahya, meanwhile, chairs the Tanfidziyah, the executive body responsible for NU's core programs and day-to-day operations.

The primary grounds cited for Yahya's dismissal include suspected violations of financial governance protocols and, most notably, his engagement with figures allegedly affiliated with international Zionist networks.

Yahya has long been known as an Indonesian Muslim figure with ties to Israel. He famously accompanied several figures to a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, a move he defended as part of reconciliation efforts even as the Israeli government showed no indication of halting its attacks on Palestine.

Earlier this year, Yahya invited Peter Berkowitz, an intellectual known for supporting Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories under the pretext of self-defense, to an NU leadership program. Leveraging his position as a member of the Board of Trustees, Yahya also recommended that the University of Indonesia invite Berkowitz to speak on campus.

Following backlash, Yahya admitted he had failed to conduct adequate background checks before inviting a pro-Israel figure to Indonesia. His opponents in the Syuriah have used these missteps as the catalyst for his removal.

Yahya argues that the letter declaring his dismissal is invalid, claiming that the Syuriah meeting lacks the authority to remove him unilaterally. In response to the circulating meeting minutes, Yahya convened around 60 NU scholars to gather support.

Said Asrori, a Syuriah member, asserted after the gathering that the ulema agreed the current leadership should serve out its full term, which ends next year. He maintained that neither impeachment nor resignation should apply to any leader on either of the NU boards. Yahya has also sought to consolidate his position through NU's provincial branches, which he claims still support him.

However, Yahya faces an alleged internal coup attempt led by his own Secretary-General, Saifullah Yusuf, who also serves as Social Affairs Minister in President Prabowo Subianto's cabinet. Although intended to be NU’s executive leadership duo, Yahya admits he has not communicated with his secretary-general for some time.

Yahya's standing has further weakened following allegations involving his brother, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas. The former Religious Affairs Minister (2020–2024) is suspected of playing a central role in corruption and the misuse of haj quota allocations during his tenure.

Both Yahya and Yaqut are also known to have strained relations with Muhaimin Iskandar, chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB) that has deep roots in NU. Muhaimin's political influence appears to have risen after he joined the Prabowo administration, despite having campaigned against Prabowo in the 2024 presidential election as Anies Baswedan's running mate.

NU continues to be a highly contested power base for political parties and national politicians due to its vast membership, strong grassroots influence, and the loyalty of its followers. Its broad presence in vote-rich regions such as East Java and Central Java further reinforces its significance as a major political battleground.