The Ministry of Religious Affairs is reviewing a proposal from the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) regarding the certification of religious preachers following a recent controversy involving a popular Muslim preacher’s inappropriate behavior.
Nasaruddin Umar, Minister of Religious Affairs, said that the idea of granting licenses or permits for preaching activities will be examined soon.
“We are in the process of reviewing this, and we will discuss it further in the near future,” Nasaruddin told the media at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Monday, December 9, 2024.
The proposal for preachers’ certification follows a preaching controversy involving Miftah Maulana Habiburrahman, also known as Gus Miftah.
A video footage recently recently went viral in which Gus Miftah was accused of belittling a mobile tea seller during a religious lecture.
In response to this, President Prabowo Subianto emphasized the need for careful deliberation before making any decisions regarding the proposal.
He stressed the importance of consulting with the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and other religious organizations before moving forward.
“We will seek input from the Ulema Council and religious organizations. We need to hear their opinions first,” President Prabowo said during a press conference on Friday, December 6, 2024.
Earlier, Maman Imanulhaq, a member of the House’s Religious Affairs Commission VIII, had called for the certification of religious preachers to ensure that they have the necessary qualifications to deliver religious teachings.
Maman also criticized Gus Miftah for his remarks, which were seen as disrespectful and offensive to the public.
In response to the backlash, Gus Miftah resigned from his position as Special Presidential Envoy for Religious Harmony and Infrastructure Development on Friday, December 6, 2024.
In his resignation statement, Gus Miftah clarified that his decision was made out of deep respect, love, and responsibility toward President Prabowo Subianto and the Indonesian people, and not due to any external pressure.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs’ review of the preacher certification proposal will be a significant discussion in ensuring the quality and ethical standards of preaching activities in Indonesia.
