Nusantara.  President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Tuesday officially inaugurated 76 members of the flag-raising team for the upcoming Independence Day ceremony, amid reports that selected female Muslim participants were asked to remove their hijabs.

This historic event marked the first time the inauguration took place at the partially completed State Palace in Nusantara, the future national capital in East Kalimantan.

The team, known locally as Paskibraka, consists of boys and girls who were selected through a rigorous process, representing all 38 provinces.

Violetha Agryka Sianturi, a student from a state high school in Sibolga, North Sumatra, has been given the honor of carrying the red and white flag during the August 17 ceremony.

However, social media users have raised concerns about the absence of hijabs among the female members, sharing old photos of participants who wore the Muslim headdress. This sparked allegations that the selection committee had instructed female members to remove their hijabs.

Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Dito Ariotedjo said he was unaware of the issue and would seek clarification from the Agency for the Implementation of Pancasila Ideology (BPIP).

"Paskibraka is fully under the purview of the BPIP, not the Youth Affairs Ministry. I hope this controversy is only the result of misinformation," Dito said on Wednesday.

The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has warned that banning Paskibraka's female members from wearing hijabs could be a violation of the Constitution.

“Article 29 of the 1945 Constitution clearly stipulates that the nation is founded on the belief in one God and grants every citizen the religious freedom to observe their faiths," MUI Deputy Chairman Anwar Abbas stated.

He added that for Muslim women, wearing a hijab is a religious obligation, and prohibiting it would be an affront to both the Constitution and Islamic teachings.

"Such a ban is entirely unacceptable and could create anxiety and unrest among communities, particularly Muslims," he added.

Below is the list of flag-hoisting team members:

• Aceh: Muhammad Yusran Ar-Razzaq and Dzawata Maghfura Zuhri
• North Sumatra: Ibnu Aswan and Violetha Agryka Sianturi
• West Sumatra: Raidzaky Rafifaldrie and Maulia Permata Putri
• Riau: M Radoslaw Larre Prawiro and Kamilatun Nisa
• Jambi: Alfadillah Zaid Fahrurozizki and Rahma Az Zahra
• South Sumatra: Al Fatih Akrom Azzufar ZH and Tahara Cahaya RA
• Bengkulu: Novallian Syaputra and Amanda Aprillia
• Lampung: Alvin Febian Siagian and Mutia Al Vanie
• Bangka Belitung: Loris Akbar Djailanie and Catherine
• Riau Islands: Abdullah Al Haddad and Hasya Danirmala Putri Athadira
• Jakarta: Abdul Zaky Hutera and Sabrina Roihanah Syukriyyah Thallah
• West Java: Johanes Adhyaksa Pesik Langie and Sofia Sahla
• Central Java: Akmal Faiz Ali Khadafi and Glenys Lalita Aksani
• Yogyakarta: Zulfikri Khoirurijal and Keynina Evelyn Candra
• East Java: Muhammad Raihan and Rahdisty Syawalia Yogi
• Banten: Naufal Gibran Ahmadinezad Kuswara and Kirana Ashawidya Baskara
• Bali: A.A. Ngr Panji Dharma Putra and Ni Komang Tri Setia
• West Nusa Tenggara: Muhammad Raihan Ammar Firdaus and Amna Kayla
• East Nusa Tenggara: Frumentius Arison Ngongo and Jessica Kristin Henuk
• West Kalimantan: Muhammad Mizan Gauzan Defaktatratama Yusup and Zahratushyta Dwi Artika
• Central Kalimantan: Riyad Al Hamdani and Alysia Noreen Ramadhani
• South Kalimantan: G.T. M Riyal Yudistira and Della Selfavia Azahra
• East Kalimantan: Sunnu Wahyudi and Livenia Evelyn Kurniawan
• North Kalimantan: Muhammad Dhava Bima Adithya and Carmellina Charmaine
• North Sulawesi: Jonathan Gilbert Tanjawa and Ni Made Sri Puspa Wati
• Central Sulawesi: Michael Mikha Laempah and Zahra Aisyah Aplizya
• South Sulawesi: Try Adyaksa S and Agatha Sapan Kallolangi
• Southeast Sulawesi: Aldiyansyah Rahmat and Lutfiyah Naurasyifa Utoyo
• Gorontalo: Nadhif Islami F. Yasin and Siti Janeeta Abdul Wahab
• West Sulawesi: Aditya Bagaskara and Mutiara Wasilah
• Maluku: Muhammad Fahry Alfarizky Lestahulu and Asih Arum Lestari
• North Maluku: Fifandra Ardiansyah Daud and Aprillya Putri Dwi Mahendra
• Papua: Kevin Imanuel Rumbino and Kristina Elisabeth Duwiri
• West Papua: Melkisedek Sasarari and Indri Marwa Delvita Ahek
• Southwest Papua: Yohanis Josua Juan Budji and Rachel Rieva Bodori
• Mountainous Papua: Andre R. O Kabagaimu and Yoan F Mudumi
• Central Papua: Joe Bayden Imanuel Kallem and Bergitha Rabani Dimara
• South Papua: Canavaro Natiel Wayega and Monika Bebi Gewo.

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