PBNU Heats Up: Gus Yahya Rejects Equity Impeachment Of Sharia Councils

Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Executive Board, Yahya Cholil Staquf or Gus Yahya, reiterated that his position as chairman can only be replaced through a congress. This affirmation was conveyed following an internal polemic regarding the decision of the PBNU Sharia Council daily meeting which stated that he had been dismissed.

Gus Yahya emphasized that the provisions regarding the mechanism for changing the general chairman of PBNU were very clear and did not provide space for multiple interpretations in the NU Articles of Association and Bylaws (AD/ART). In this regard, the decision to dismiss which resulted from the PBNU Sharia Council meeting was considered a unilateral action and was outside the authority.

Mandataris Muktamar tidak bisa dihentikan tanpa Muktamar. Itu sangat jelas dalam sistem konstitusi dan regulasi NU, tegasnya dalam konferensi pers di kantor PBNU, Jakarta Pusat, Rabu 3 Desember.

Gus Yahya also assessed that the daily meeting of the Sharia Council which was used as the basis for impeachment was not legally legal because it did not involve all elements of PBNU. The same applies to the plan for a follow-up plenary meeting which is considered a defective procedure.

The plenary meeting can only be held and led together by Rais Aam and the general chairman. It cannot be unilateral. Related to that, all decisions made from the meeting were null and void," said Gus Yahya.

Regarding the various accusations directed at him, he emphasized that he was ready to be examined and tested. However, the process must be carried out through a legal organizational mechanism, with a clarification and deliberation room. "Please check if there are accusations. I am open. However, I cannot accept unilateral accusations without clarification," he said.

Even so, Gus Yahya emphasized that PBNU still prioritizes dialogue and deliberation to reduce internal chaos. However, if all peace efforts are closed, legal steps will be taken. If this dialogue path is rejected altogether, we are ready to take legal action in order to maintain the integrity and order of the NU organization, "he said.

Gus Yahya emphasized that this attitude is not to maintain personal positions, but to ensure that the organizational system is not damaged by one-sided decisions. I have no interest but to maintain the organizational order. Position is not the most important thing," he said.

As is known, PBNU's internal polemic emerged after a meeting of the Sharia Council issued a decision claiming the dismissal of Gus Yahya as chairman. Until now, the internal dynamics in the largest religious organization in Indonesia is still ongoing.