November 27, 2025 | 12:50 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Yahya Cholil Staquf has asserted that he remains the legitimate Chairperson of Indonesia’s Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU), the world’s largest Muslim organization, despite internal claims of his removal.
Speaking amid rising internal tension, the senior cleric, widely known as Gus Yahya, said reports of his dismissal were unfounded and not issued through any valid organizational procedure.
At a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, Yahya described the controversy as abrupt and lacking credible basis.
“What has happened in the past few days is very surprising. There were no warning signs,” he said. He added that the information used to justify his alleged dismissal was “vague and invalid.”
Yahya emphasized that, from a legal standpoint, his position has not changed. “There is de facto and de jure. Legally, it is clear that I am still the Chairman, and this is indisputable,” he said.
He also claimed strong support from PBNU regional leaders, noting that executives from across Indonesia, including both Tanfidziyah (executive board) and Syuriyah (religious supreme council) representatives, attended recent meetings with him.
“So in practice, I remain fully effective as Chairperson,” he added.
Tension escalated earlier when PBNU’s Syuriyah Council issued a circular declaring Yahya removed from his position as of November 26, 2025.
The document was signed by Deputy Rais Aam Afifuddin Muhajir and Secretary Ahmad Tajul Mafakhir. It stated that Yahya was “no longer Chairperson of PBNU” as of 12:45 AM Western Indonesia Time.
However, Ahmad Tajul later clarified that the document should not be interpreted as a dismissal letter. “I signed a PBNU circular, as written. It is not a dismissal letter. It is a different form,” he said.
Tajul added that his remarks represented his personal stance, not the institution’s. “I speak as an individual. I am not PBNU’s spokesperson,” he said.
Hendrik Yaputra contributed to the writing of this article.
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