Indonesia’s largest Islamic organisation, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), has requested the resignation of its chairman following his invitation to a US scholar known for supporting Israel, an action that drew criticism amid ongoing tensions in Gaza.
According to meeting minutes reviewed by Reuters, NU’s leadership has given Chairman Yahya Cholil Staquf three days to step down, or he could face removal from his position. The organisation, which has around 100 million members and affiliates, cited Staquf’s decision to invite a figure “affiliated with an International Zionism network” to an internal event, alongside concerns about financial management, as reasons for the move.
NU official Najib Azca confirmed to Reuters that the decision was linked to Staquf’s invitation of Peter Berkowitz, a former US official and scholar, to a training session in August.
Staquf, who has served as NU’s chairman since 2021, issued an apology for the invitation, describing it as an oversight and stating that he had not thoroughly reviewed Berkowitz’s background. He also condemned what he described as Israel’s “brutal acts in Gaza.”
According to his website, Berkowitz frequently writes in support of Israel’s actions in Gaza. He participated in NU seminars in August, discussing the history of Western political thought. Berkowitz did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country, has consistently criticised Israel’s actions in Gaza since the conflict began in 2023. The country supports a two-state solution and does not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel.
