PBNU Chairman Yahya Cholil Staquf Disputes Calls for Resignation, Cites Procedural Concerns
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A growing controversy surrounding calls for the resignation of Yahya Cholil Staquf, also known as Gus Yahya, Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU), has erupted as the leader claims he has not received an official request for his departure. The dispute centers on the validity of circulated minutes from a recent internal meeting.
Gus Yahya addressed the situation on Sunday, November 23, 2025, stating, “I have not physically received any letter from Syuriah. Until now I have not physically received it.” This statement casts doubt on the authenticity and proper delivery of the request for his resignation, raising questions about the internal dynamics within PBNU, Indonesia’s largest Islamic organization.
Concerns Over Official Protocol
The core of the dispute lies in the method of communication. Gus Yahya asserted that the circulated document does not adhere to the organization’s established standards for official correspondence. He specifically pointed to the use of manual signatures rather than the preferred digital signatures for official documents.
“As for the so-called minutes circulating on social media, they also do not meet the official standards of the organization’s official documents,” Gus Yahya explained. “Because if the official document has a digital signature, it can really be accounted for, when it was signed, by whom and so on, it can be accounted for if the signature is digital.” He further noted the ease with which scanned signatures can be fabricated, adding, “Manual signatures are possible, nowadays it’s very easy to make scanned signatures. So we’ll see.”
Details of the Disputed Meeting
The controversy stems from minutes of a PBNU Syariah Daily Meeting held on Thursday, November 20, at the Aston City Hotel in Jakarta. According to reports, 37 of the 53 PBNU daily Syariah administrators attended the meeting, where a decision was reportedly made to request Yahya Cholil Staquf’s resignation. The minutes were signed by the meeting chairman and Rais Aam PBNU, KH Miftachul Akhyar.
The implications of this internal conflict remain to be seen. The lack of official confirmation and the questions surrounding the validity of the minutes create a period of uncertainty for PBNU and its future leadership.
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The situation is developing, and further clarification is expected as PBNU navigates this internal challenge.
