TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Chair of Indonesia’s Nahdlatul Ulama Central Board (PBNU), Mohamad Syafi’ Alielha (Savic Ali), has stated that the PBNU Syuriyah, the organization’s Supreme Council, does not have the authority to dismiss Yahya Cholil Staquf, widely known as Gus Yahya, as PBNU Chair.
According to Savic, any such dismissal must follow the formal process of an Extraordinary NU Congress.
“Based on my reading of the NU AD/ART, the Syuriyah cannot remove the General Chair of Tanfidziyah [the NU executive body]. Such a decision must go through a congress, in this case, an extraordinary congress,” Savic said in response to the circular issued by the PBNU Syuriyah on Wednesday, November 26, 2025.
Savic added that he had not yet received a statement from Yahya regarding the circular and emphasized that the letter’s authenticity should be confirmed with the Syuriyah.
“There has been no statement from Gus Yahya. Whether it is genuine should be clarified with the Syuriyah,” he said.
He also expressed concern over the insistence of PBNU Rais Aam (Supreme Leader) Miftachul Akhyar to dismiss Yahya without a proper forum, such as a plenary meeting, to allow the chairperson to respond to allegations of pro-Zionist affiliations and financial irregularities.
“Some officials aware of the issues were ready to explain but were not called,” Savic said.
Savic urged that internal disputes be resolved through reconciliation, describing it as the best way forward for Nahdlatul Ulama.
The Dismissal Circular
The PBNU Syuriyah previously issued a circular letter (No. 4785/PB.02/A.II.10.01/99/11/2025) on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, stating that Gus Yahya was no longer PBNU Chair, effective at 12:45 AM WIB.
The letter was signed by Deputy Rais Aam Afifuddin Muhajir and Secretary General Ahmad Tajul Mafakhir on November 25, 2025.
Ahmad Tajul confirmed he signed the circular but denied it constituted a termination letter, stating it was a standard administrative circular.
“I signed the PBNU Circular as written. It is not a Termination Letter. They are different forms,” he said, adding that his remarks were personal and did not represent the organization.
The circular followed the PBNU Syuriyah Daily Meeting on November 20, 2025, in Jakarta, attended by 37 of 53 Syuriyah members.
According to the letter, the dismissal stripped Yahya of all authority, privileges, and rights associated with the chairperson position and prohibited him from acting on behalf of Nahdlatul Ulama.
The Syuriyah called for an immediate plenary meeting, in accordance with NU regulations governing the termination of officials, interim replacements, and delegation of functions (Regulations No. 10, 13, and 01/X/2023).
During the vacancy, leadership responsibilities fall entirely to the Rais Aam, the organization’s supreme leader.
Yahya retains the right to appeal to the Nahdlatul Ulama Arbitration Council under Regulation No. 14 of 2025 on internal dispute resolution. Tempo has reached out to him for comment, but he has not responded.
The dismissal followed mounting pressure after the PBNU Syuriyah Daily Meeting on November 20.
The council judged that the presence of speakers allegedly linked to an international Zionist network at the National Leadership Academy of Nahdlatul Ulama (AKN NU) violated the values and teachings of Ahlussunnah wal Jamaah An-Nahdliyah and contradicted the organization’s foundational regulations.
Yahya was given three days to resign; otherwise, he would face dismissal. In response, he firmly rejected the ultimatum: “It never crossed my mind to resign because I received a mandate from this congress for five years,” he told the media at Novotel Samator Hotel in Surabaya, East Java, on Sunday, November 23, 2025.
Egi Adyatama and Hanaa Septiana contributed to the writing of this article.
Editor’s Choice: Indonesia's Nahdlatul Ulama Supreme Council Ousts Leader Gus Yahya
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
