Senior NU figures discuss executive role for women<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Muslim organization is
\nconsidering a groundbreaking and controversial move to include
\nwomen in its next executive lineup.<\/p>\n
NU deputy chairman Said Aqil Siradj said on Tuesday that
\nIndonesia's largest Muslim organization wanted to dispel orthodox
\nnotions about the 35-million strong grouping.<\/p>\n
\"Many Islamic-based organizations are uncomfortable including
\nwomen in their executives. NU will dare to break the old
\ntradition that the organization is male-dominated,\" said Said.<\/p>\n
He conceded that the move was likely to attract strong
\ncriticism from various quarters in the organization. But he
\ndefended the move, saying that female scholars associated with
\nthe organization had repeatedly shown their capacity and
\ncompetency in various fields.<\/p>\n
Said would not be drawn to propose any likely candidates.<\/p>\n
Accompanied by NU deputy secretary-general Arifin Junaidi,
\nSaid was speaking to journalists at a curtain-raiser to the 30th
\nNU Congress, which will open on Sunday.<\/p>\n
The week-long congress will be held at the Lirboyo Islamic
\nboarding school in Kediri, East Java.<\/p>\n
The most anticipated outcome of the gathering is the election
\nof a new NU chairman to replace Abdurrahman Wahid who is now
\nPresident.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman has been at the NU helm since 1984.<\/p>\n
Scholars Mustofa Bisri, Hasyim Muzadi, Sholahudin Wahid,
\nFadjrul Falaakh and Said Aqil Siradj himself have been touted as
\nthe leading contenders for NU's top post.<\/p>\n
Many women, including State Minister of the Empowerment of
\nWomen Khofifah Indar Parawansa, have recently moved up through
\nthe ranks of the organization through affiliated organizations
\nand the NU-backed National Awakening Party (PKB). But no women
\nhave joined the ranks of the all-male NU central executive board.<\/p>\n
\"We have a lot of female scholars who can sit at some
\npositions on the executive. Don't think those who wear head
\nscarves and live in Islamic boarding schools have little
\nknowledge about the organization,\" Said contended.<\/p>\n
\"I've observed their competency. They are just waiting to be
\ngiven a chance to prove their ability.\"<\/p>\n
Female scholars in the organization have their own affiliated
\nassociation -- the Muslimat NU.<\/p>\n
\"The Muslimat is now too small for them,\" Said asserted.<\/p>\n
Nominees<\/p>\n
With the start of the congress just days away, jockeying for
\nthe leadership race has already begun.<\/p>\n
In Semarang, NU's Central Java chapter decided on Tuesday to
\nrefrain from naming a specific candidate. The chapter however has
\ndecided to list essential criteria for nominees to the post.<\/p>\n
NU Central Java chairman Achmad said the leading criteria
\nincluded a strong commitment to the organization and a strict
\nadherence of NU's 1926 khittoh (statute) which states that NU
\nmust stay away from practical politics.<\/p>\n
The issue of the khittoh is likely to be hotly debated at the
\ncongress. Top NU figures continue to hold key political posts in
\nthe government, despite the fact that they do not officially
\ncarrying the NU banner.<\/p>\n
In Yogyakarta, the All-Java Nahdlatul Ulama Youth
\nCommunication Forum -- a loose alliance of NU youth activists --
\npledged to keep the khittoh and play an active role as a \"moral
\nforce\" during the congress.<\/p>\n
The youth activists said they would distribute flyers
\ncontaining messages calling for neutrality in politics.<\/p>\n
\"Many do not realize this, but I'm afraid that with his
\n(Abdurrahman's) appointment as President, this next congress will
\nbe filled with political agendas,\" Akhmad said.<\/p>\n
The forum -- which was established at the 28th NU Congress in
\n1989 to accommodate Muslim youths not incorporated in the
\norganization's structure -- also vowed to maintain its distance
\nfrom the government.<\/p>\n
The group pledged to remain critical of the government despite
\nits inclusion of many NU figures.<\/p>\n
\"Many of us were offered research projects by newly appointed
\nministers such as A.S. Hikam (the State Minister of Research and
\nTechnology), but we turned them down,\" Akhmad said.<\/p>\n
\"It is also important that not all NU human resources be
\nusurped in bureaucratic or governmental affairs,\" he added.
\n(44\/har\/edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/senior-nu-figures-discuss-executive-role-for-women-1447893297",
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