Who Is Yahya Cholil Staquf, The Head Of PBNU Substitute For Said Aqil Whose Visit To Israel Became A Controversy

JAKARTA - Yahya Cholil Staquf was elected as the General Chair of the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Executive Board. The man who is familiarly called Gus Yahya was elected as the General Chair of PBNU after a long series of NU's 34th Congress in Lampung since Thursday, December 23, 2021.

The counting of votes will be held openly and broadcast online. Gus Yahya won 337 votes from PWNU and PCNU.

Meanwhile, the incumbent, KH Said Aqil Siroj got 210 votes. The National Awakening Party (PKB) congratulated Gus Yahya on the election of PBNU General Chair for the 2021-2026 period.

"Congratulations and success in carrying out the mandate to KH Yahya Cholil Staquf. We hope that the NU congregation and jam'iyyah will advance worldwide in the hands of Gus Yahya, the elected chairman of PBNU," said PKB Deputy Chairperson Jazilul Fawaid, citing a VOI article entitled So PBNU Chairman Replaces KH Said Aqil, PKB Convinced Gus Yahya to Build a New, Better Tradition for NU.

Jazilul said PKB believes that Gus Yahya will bring the NU mass organization to a global level with new breakthroughs. "We believe that Gus Yahya will make a breakthrough and new enthusiasm for NU's work in serving the people, nation and state, even to the world," said Jazilul.

Gus Yahya was born on February 16, 1966 in Rembang, Central Java. Gus Yahya is the son of the caretaker of the Roudlat Thalibin Islamic Boarding School, KH Muhammad Cholil Bisri.

Gus Yahya's father is also known as a sociologist and founding politician of the PKB. Gus Yahya's grandfather was also a major figure in NU, KH Bisri Mustofa.

Gus Yahya is the older brother of the Indonesian Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas. In education, Gus Yahya studied at Madrasah Al Munawwir Krapyak, Yogyakarta.

Growing up in a pesantren and being the son of the owner of the pesantren, Gus Yahya has been familiar with religious knowledge since childhood. Gus Yahya then continued his education at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at Gadjah Mada University.

He is active in the Yogyakarta Branch of the Islamic Student Association (HMI). On May 31 2018, Gus Yahya was inaugurated as a member of the Presidential Advisory Council. Gus Yahya had previously been the spokesman for the fourth president of Indonesia, Abdurrahman Wahid or Gus Dur.

Gus Yahya was invited by the Israel Council on Foreign Relations (ICFR) to be a speaker at a seminar held on June 10, 2018. The seminar was held at The David Amar Worldwide North Africa Jewish Heritage Center, Jerusalem.

Yahya's departure to Israel at that time did not represent the Indonesian government. The General Chair of PBNU at that time, Said Aqil Siraj also said that Gus Yahya's arrival to Jerusalem did not represent PBNU and was on a personal behalf.

"It has absolutely nothing to do with Nahdlatul Ulama," Said said, quoting Tempo.

The presence of Gus Yahya in the event was criticized by the Palestinian movement group, Hamas. According to Hamas, Gus Yahya's arrival in Jerusalem is a great support and recognition for the fascist regime.

Hamas also considered that Gus Yahya's presence provided justification for Israel to commit further crimes against the Palestinian people and holy places.

"While we appreciate Indonesia's historic stance of supporting the rights of the Palestinian people and their struggle for freedom and independence, we condemn this dishonorable act, which insults not only the Palestinian people and their sacrifices, but also the Indonesian people and their long history of supporting the Palestinian cause. " said Hamas, citing CNN Indonesia.

On June 14 2018, Gus Yahya met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu shared photos of the time they met on his Twitter account.

A special meeting today in Jerusalem with Yahya Cholil Staquf, the General Secretary of the global Islamic organization Nahdlatul Ulama. I'm very happy to see that Arab countries and many Muslim countries are getting closer to Israel! pic.twitter.com/FvGMBpZv6u

— Benjamin Netanyahu (@nettanyahu) June 14, 2018

"Today's special meeting in Jerusalem with Yahya Cholil Staquf, secretary general of the global Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama," Netanyahu said in his post.

*Read other information about the ISRAEL-PALESTINE CONFLICT or read other interesting articles from Putri Ainur Islam.