Gus Yahya says Prabowo's condolences to Iran reflect a humanitarian stance

Jakarta — Yahya Cholil Staquf, the General Chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU), said that President Prabowo Subianto’s expression of condolences on the death of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was a reasonable gesture in the humane relations between nations.

He made the statement during an Iftar Ramadhan hosted by President Prabowo at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Thursday.

“I think yes, when someone dies we express condolences,” he said, commenting on Prabowo’s expression of sorrow over the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

As the figure known as Gus Yahya, he said expressing condolences is a natural thing to do when a leader dies. He said such a stance is a form of empathy and respect for fellow human beings.

Gus Yahya added that Nahdlatul Ulama also sent condolences for the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader. However, he stressed that what is more important than the mere response of grief is real efforts to stop the violence that continues to occur in the region.

“But, beyond that, the next step is to strive with all one’s might to stop the violence and realise peace,” he said.

According to him, various parties must strive with all their might to halt the conflict and realise peace. He emphasised that steps to stop the violence are urgent so that the situation does not deteriorate further and does not cause wider casualties.

Previously, Foreign Minister Sugiono officially conveyed Indonesia’s condolences on the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an attack by the United States and Israel. The letter was delivered by Sugiono to Iran’s Ambassador to the Republic of Indonesia Mohammad Boroujerdi during their meeting in Jakarta on Wednesday, 4 March.