NU Power Struggle Deepens After Supreme Council Fires Chairman Yahya Cholil
Surabaya. The supreme council of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) — Indonesia’s largest Muslim organization — has confirmed that Chairman Yahya Cholil Staquf has been removed from his post, according to council leader Miftachul Ahyar on Saturday.
The dismissal follows weeks of internal tension after Yahya invited American scholar Peter Berkowitz, known for pro-Israel views, to speak at the NU National Leadership Academy in Jakarta on August 15. The move triggered strong backlash within the organization.
Yahya has rejected efforts to remove him and stated last week that he would not step down before completing his term next year.
The Supreme Council — consisting of senior NU clerics — convened on November 20 and recommended Yahya’s dismissal over the Berkowitz invitation. Miftachul said the official termination letter was issued on November 26, marking the end of Yahya’s tenure.
“Yahya Cholil Staquf has ceased to hold the chairman title since November 26, 2025, and NU leadership is now fully assumed by the Supreme Council leader,” Miftachul said in Surabaya.
He stressed that the removal decision was taken without personal motives or hidden agendas, adding that a national gathering will soon be held to discuss the leadership transition.
Yahya has not responded to Saturday’s announcement. However, he said last week that he had “absolutely no intention of resigning.”
“I was entrusted to lead this organization for five years,” said Yahya, who began his term in 2021. He described the Supreme Council’s recommendation as illegitimate and contrary to NU’s internal rules.
Yahya argued that the senior clerics who recommended his dismissal do not hold the authority to demand the chairman’s resignation under NU statutes.
The 59-year-old cleric also acknowledged criticism regarding his 2018 visit to Israel, where he met then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but insisted that his trip aimed to advocate for Palestinian rights.
He claimed that regional NU leaders in East Java recently voiced support for him to finish his term until 2026 during a meeting in Surabaya.
Timeline: How the Israel Controversy Sparked Internal Turmoil in Nahdlatul Ulama
June 14, 2018 — Yahya’s Visit to Israel
Yahya Cholil Staquf, then NU’s Secretary-General, visits Israel and meets Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem.
The visit draws widespread backlash from Indonesian Muslim organizations and pro-Palestinian groups. Yahya says the purpose was to communicate NU’s advocacy for Palestinian rights.
December 24, 2021 — Yahya Elected Chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama
Yahya begins a five-year term as NU chairman, raising hopes among critics and supporters that past controversies will not recur.
August 15, 2025 — Invitation of Peter Berkowitz
The NU National Leadership Academy in Jakarta invites American academic Peter Berkowitz, publicly known for pro-Israel views, to deliver a lecture.
The decision triggers strong internal criticism, with NU figures questioning the political judgment and sensitivities of the invitation.
August–November 2025 — Rising Internal Tension
Accusations circulate within NU that Yahya maintains ties with Israeli political circles.
Yahya reiterates that his past engagement with Israeli authorities was strategic diplomacy to defend Palestinian rights, not political alignment.
November 20, 2025 — Senior Clerics Recommend Yahya’s Removal
A meeting of senior NU clerics led by Miftachul Akhyar issues a formal recommendation that Yahya be dismissed as chairman due to the Berkowitz invitation.
The recommendation does not carry constitutional authority, but it deepens the divide between internal factions.
November 22, 2025 — Yahya Consolidates Support
Yahya convenes a coordination meeting with provincial NU leadership in Surabaya.
Regional leaders reportedly support Yahya remaining in office through 2026, asserting that grassroots legitimacy should outweigh pressure from a faction of senior clerics.
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