Jimly proposes that Prabowo suspend Indonesia's Board of Peace (BoP) membership until the Iran conflict subsides

Jimly Asshiddiqie, the chair of the Advisory Board of the Indonesian Muslim Intellectual Association (ICMI), has proposed to President Prabowo Subianto that Indonesia suspend its membership in the Board of Peace (BoP) until the Iran conflict involving the United States and Israel subsides. Jimly said that U.S. President Donald Trump highly appreciates Indonesia’s role in the BoP, so resigning from the organisation would not yet be the right decision. ‘There are two things that make Donald Trump very fond of Indonesia, so we could cut them in half. For example, regarding the BoP, we would state that we suspend our membership obligations until two things. One, until the Iran–United States and Israel war subsides,’ Jimly said during a briefing at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, on Thursday, 5 March. Jimly said that the escalation of the Iran conflict after unilateral strikes by the United States military and Israel has led the public to associate the organisation founded by President Trump with not the Board of Peace but the Board of Power. Therefore, he recommended that the Indonesian government suspend its BoP membership until the Iran conflict subsides. Indonesia could also resume active membership once there is certainty about Israel’s recognition of Palestinian statehood. ‘Secondly, until there is certainty about the timetable for Israel’s recognition of Palestinian independence. Once there is certainty, we would be active again. That is my suggestion,’ said Jimly. He added that as the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, Indonesia should also play a role in bridging potential conflicts and the divide-and-rule politics from Israel to Muslim countries. ‘Arab peoples and non-Arab peoples, Turkey, Persia or Iran, Indonesia and Pakistan, hopefully can help steer the Muslim world. Do not let them be pitted against each other. This is because of Shia and Sunni,’ he said.