MUI Chairman Highlights High Divorce Rate Due to Economic Problems

SEMARANG – Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) KH M. Anwar Iskandar has highlighted the high and continuously rising divorce rate in Indonesia. He stated that the majority of these cases occur due to economic problems.

“We can almost be certain that in all religious courts across Indonesia, from year to year, the divorce rate is very high,” Anwar said during his speech at the inauguration ceremony of the MUI Central Java Provincial board for the 2026–2031 period in Semarang on Monday (24/8/2026).

As a result, Anwar added, many women end up becoming widows. “And the majority of the reasons are economic problems,” he said.

According to him, this matter needs to receive attention from the MUI. “I think the Indonesian Ulema Council must care about matters like this by undertaking efforts to strengthen the economic standing of the ummah,” Anwar said.

He argued that divorce cannot be viewed merely as a separation between a husband and wife. “The consequences will also affect young people, children whose households have fallen apart. That must become part of our shared concern,” he said.

Therefore, Anwar encouraged a movement for the economic empowerment of the ummah. “We must act so that there is an effort to strengthen the economy,” he said.

In this regard, Anwar noted that the MUI cannot work alone. “This must be carried out together with the government, with businesspeople, and with various layers of society that can enable the success of our efforts to improve the economy of the ummah,” he said.