Political Career of Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, Former Religious Affairs Minister Now Detained in Hajj Quota Case

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has detained former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas as a suspect in an alleged corruption case related to the management of Indonesia’s hajj quota.

The case concerns the handling of Indonesia’s hajj quota for 2023–2024. This development follows the South Jakarta District Court’s rejection of Yaqut’s pre-trial motion challenging his designation as a suspect.

After examination, the KPK decided to detain Yaqut for the first 20 days, from 12 to 31 March 2026.

The order was issued to Yaqut following a meeting with the Board of Advisors of the Forum of Muslim Travel Agencies and Umrah (Forum SATHU) in November 2023.

In a press conference on Thursday 12 March 2026, a statement indicated that new legislation would be applied during trial proceedings, including Law No. 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code, Law No. 20 of 2025 on the Criminal Procedure Code, and Law No. 1 of 2026 on Criminal Penalty Adjustment, with the principle of lex favor reo—the most favourable law to the defendant—being applied.

Yaqut has an extensive political background. Cholil Bisri, a relative, served as Vice Chairman of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) during 2002–2004 and was one of the founders of the National Awakening Party (PKB). Yaqut’s brother is Yahya Cholil Staquf, the current Chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama’s General Board (PBNU).

Yaqut studied Sociology at the University of Indonesia (UI) and was active in student organisations, helping to establish the Indonesian Islamic Student Movement (PMII) in the Depok branch whilst studying.

He served as a member of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) for the 2015–2019 term as an interim replacement when his predecessor Hanif Dhakiri was promoted to Minister of Labour. During this period, Yaqut worked on Commission VI, which oversees trade, industry, investment, cooperatives, small and medium enterprises, and state-owned enterprises, as well as national standardisation.

Under President Joko Widodo, Yaqut was appointed as Minister of Religious Affairs, replacing Fachrul Razi.