Jakarta. Syarifah Fadlun, wife of firebrand cleric Rizieq Syihab, passed away on Saturday after a prolonged battle with illness.

According to family representatives, she had been grappling with multiple health complications over recent months, necessitating several hospital admissions.

Her funeral rites will commence at her private residence in Petamburan, Central Jakarta, before the final ceremony at a family cemetery near the Mega Mendung Islamic boarding school in Bogor on Sunday morning.

Syarifah and Rizieq were married on Sept. 11, 1987, and together they raised seven children.

While Rizieq garnered extensive media attention due to his involvement with the hardline group Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) and subsequent foray into politics, his wife largely remained out of the public eye.

Her public appearance emerged when she advocated for her husband's parole after his conviction for violating Covid-19 quarantine regulations. Rizieq had been in detention since December 2019 until his release on parole in July 2022.

Recently, Rizieq cited his wife's deteriorating health as the reason for his absence from an event commemorating the seventh anniversary of the "212 movement" at the National Monument (Monas) Square. 

The movement, originating from rallies held on Dec. 2, 2016, demanded the resignation of Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, also known as Ahok, over alleged Quranic insults. The now-defunct FPI played a pivotal role in organizing the rallies, contributing to Ahok's subsequent defeat in the gubernatorial election.

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