Jimly and Gus Yahya on Prabowo's Condolences to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Islamic figures commented on President Prabowo Subianto’s move to express condolences on the death of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“Tepat sekali kemarin Presiden sudah menyampaikan turut berduka kepada seluruh rakyat Iran,” said Jimly Asshiddiqie, chairman of the Advisory Board of the Indonesian Muslim Scholar Association (ICMI), ahead of the iftar gathering with President Prabowo at the State Palace, Jakarta, on Thursday (5/3/2026).

“Indonesia, as one of the Muslim-majority countries, must take a stance and show solidarity,” Jimly added. He also said Indonesia should play a more strategic role in bridging conflicts and tensions among Islamic countries. “So, I think as the largest Muslim nation, upholding Pancasila, the One God, Humanity that is Just and Civilised, we cannot accept barbaric killing,” he said.

On the other hand, he said there must also be real efforts by various parties to halt violence and armed conflict that continues. “We have no choice but to fight with all our strength for peace. Stop war, peace now. There is no alternative. Because if not, nothing will be saved. This violence must be stopped by any means,” Gus Yahya said. He invited members of Indonesia to the Peace Council to become a path to peace. “Look, we must find ways to harness BoP for the peace effort. Whatever is in hand, let’s use it. If we need to dig a hole, we have no shovel, we dig with a spoon,” he added.

Earlier, President Prabowo Subianto sent a condolence letter to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The letter was delivered by Foreign Minister Sugiono during a meeting with Iranian Islamic Republic Ambassador Mohammad Boroujerdi on Wednesday (4/3/2026) yesterday.

“I also conveyed the President’s deepest condolences to President Masoud Pezeshkian on the passing of His Excellency Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran,” Sugiono said in his X post, @Menlu_RI, on Wednesday.

In a meeting with Ambassador Boroujerdi, Sugiono said the two discussed the situation in the Middle East. He also emphasised the importance of respecting international law and the United Nations Charter, and the urgent need to prevent further escalation through diplomacy, he added.