MUI says Prabowo vows to resign from the Board of Peace if he does not champion Palestine

Jakarta, VIVA – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has pledged that Indonesia will withdraw as a member of the Board of Peace (BoP) if it cannot bring about peace or advocate for Palestine.

This was stated by Cholil Nafis, deputy chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), at the Presidential Palace Complex in Central Jakarta, on Thursday, 5 March 2026.

‘Yes, his pledge is that if I (President Prabowo) am not useful to the BoP, I will resign,’ Cholil told reporters.

Cholil said Prabowo emphasised that every step Indonesia takes is solely to strive for Palestinian independence.

The statement, according to Cholil, underscores Indonesia’s stance. Prabowo is prepared to resign from the Board of Peace if it does not advance Palestinian interests.

‘He promised that what is being done is for the independence of Palestine, for the interests of Palestine. If not for Palestine’s interests, then he will resign,’ he said.

Earlier reports said the Central Executive Board of Front Persaudaraan Islam (FPI) sent a letter to President Prabowo Subianto on various matters. One of them requested Indonesia withdraw from the Board of Peace (BoP) or Peace Council.

This was conveyed by Habib Hanif Alatas, Secretary of the Shura Majelis of the DPP Front Persaudaraan Islam (FPI), after attending a gathering and breaking fast with President Prabowo at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta Pusat, Thursday, 5 March 2026.

Hanif said he came representing Habib Rizieq Shihab, who was unable to attend the invitation.

‘I came first to represent Habib Rizieq. Habib Rizieq was invited by the President, but had a prior obligation. I was sent to represent him,’ Hanif told reporters.

He explained that in the meeting, President Prabowo discussed geopolitical conditions and Indonesia’s aims in joining the Board of Peace (BoP).

Hanif said he had not yet spoken with Prabowo in that meeting. He did, however, hand over a letter to Prabowo requesting Indonesia’s withdrawal from the Board of Peace.

‘We conveyed our letter, and we also told the President that we still request the Republic of Indonesia withdraw from the Board of Peace,’ he said.

He gave the reason for Indonesia’s withdrawal: among them, lack of trust in the United States as the initiator of the BoP.