By Were Kelly
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the world’s largest Islamic organisation, is grappling with a severe internal crisis as its powerful youth wing has publicly demanded the resignation of the chairman for hosting a US scholar perceived as supportive of Israel.
The revolt threatens to fracture the 100-million-strong Indonesian-based body and exposes deep tensions within the global Muslim community over the Palestinian cause.
The controversy erupted after the NU chairman, Yahya Cholil Staquf, invited the scholar to a high-level interfaith dialogue. The youth wing, known as GP Ansor, condemned the move as a “betrayal of the Palestinian cause” and issued a statement accusing the leadership of undermining Muslim unity.
The incident highlights the challenges of navigating intra-faith and international diplomacy for a organisation that wields significant religious and political influence in Indonesia.
A senior member of GP Ansor declared, “There can be no normalisation with those who justify oppression. Our chairman’s actions have crossed a red line for millions of members who stand in solidarity with Palestine.”
The internal rift complicates NU’s role as a promoter of moderate Islam and a participant in global dialogues aimed at reducing religious conflict.
A professor of Southeast Asian studies observed, “This is more than a policy disagreement; it’s a power struggle that reflects a generational and ideological divide. The youth wing is asserting its influence and pushing the entire organisation towards a more hardline foreign policy position.”
The situation could significantly reshape NU’s future engagements and its stance on international issues.
The chairman’s office has yet to issue a formal response to the resignation demand. The outcome of this internal conflict will determine the future direction of one of the most influential voices in the Muslim world and its approach to one of its most polarising issues.
Source: Al Jazeera
