Urges Religion Not To Be Made A Political Joke, Minister Of Religion Yaqut: If Possible, Avoid It

Menagi Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (Photo: Antara)

Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas appealed to the cult in religion not to be used as a joke or joke in the midst of the increasing political frenzy towards the 2024 General Election.

"Well, actually, jokes about religion are often done. There are many if we look at browsing on Youtube, for example, many people use religion as a joke. I think if it can be avoided, don't use religion as a joke," said Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas quoted by Antara, Tuesday.

The man who is familiarly called Gus Yaqut assessed that the level of public sensitivity in the political year has increased. Therefore, his party does not want religion to be used as a joke, because it can trigger broad public reactions.

"But sometimes it becomes crowded when you encounter political momentum like this, it is concrete. That used to be a joke about religion, there was also no political momentum. Now when we meet political momentum, it will be different," he said.

For that, he said, his party asked political actors, teachers, scholars to stop alluding to or make religious elements a joke.

"I think never mind, stop, whether using religion as a political tool, joke material or whatever, don't. It's stopped, already, it doesn't need to be repeated, there's no need to sue," he said.

Present at the event were the Head of the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religion NTB Zamroni Aziz, Member of Commission VII DPR Nanang Samudra, Mayor of Mataram Mohan Roliskana, Acting Regional Secretary of NTB Fathurrahman, Acting Mayor of Bima, Mohammad Rum, Chairman of KPU NTB Suhardi Soud, Chairman of Bawaslu NTB Itratip, elements of the TNI/Polri and thousands of religious moderation volunteers in NTB.

Previously, a viral video circulating in the community about the statement of the General Chairperson of PAN who is also the Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan or Zulhas related to the tahiyat movement in prayer to the pronunciation of amen after the reading of Alfatihah. The viral video also reaped many comments from various parties.

Not only that, after Zulhas' video went viral, another video clip of presidential candidate number 1 Anies Baswedan and famous cleric Ustad Abdul Shomad (UAS) appeared again.

In the 48-second video, there is a discussion between UAS and Anies. This video is also widely discussed by netizens, both pros and cons related to this matter.