The Minister of Religious Affairs, Nasaruddin Umar, has unequivocally declared that any conduct contradicting moral values must be considered a common adversary. This strong statement comes in direct response to the controversial behavior of preacher Elham Yahya Luqman, widely known as Gus Elham, whose actions have recently stirred significant public debate.
Speaking in Jakarta on Wednesday, November 12, Minister Umar emphasized the collective responsibility in upholding ethical standards. “It is not just me as the Minister of Religious Affairs, but every individual. All actions that go against morality must become our shared enemy,” he asserted, highlighting the universal imperative to reject such behavior. He further stressed that individuals, regardless of their position or influence, must refrain from unacceptable conduct, as such actions not only tarnish their personal reputation but also inflict damage upon the institutions they represent or are affiliated with.
Despite the severity of the incident, Minister Umar urged the public not to generalize this specific case to all religious institutions. He underscored that the reprehensible acts were committed by one individual, and thus, societal perception should avoid indiscriminately condemning entire religious bodies. “I believe that every case should be resolved on a casuistic basis, requiring careful and mature consideration,” he explained, advocating for a nuanced approach to justice.
In line with this commitment, the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) is actively striving to cultivate safe and comfortable environments for all individuals within both educational and religious institutions. A dedicated team for the development of pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) has been established. This team serves as a crucial collaborative platform for pesantren leaders, working tirelessly to eliminate any form of deviation or misconduct that might occur within these esteemed educational establishments. The Minister envisions a future where “pesantren should truly become exemplary models for an ideal society.”
Echoing the Minister’s sentiment, Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs, Romo Muhammad Syafi’i, unequivocally condemned Gus Elham’s actions, particularly the instances of him kissing young girls. “We agree with the public; such behavior is utterly inappropriate!” stated Romo Syafi’i, reinforcing the ministry’s unified stance against the preacher’s conduct, especially given his status as a revered religious leader.
Romo Syafi’i further clarified that Kemenag has comprehensive and strict guidelines in place to foster child-friendly environments within madrasahs and pesantren. These regulations are enshrined in a decree issued by the Director-General of Islamic Education. The core objective of this directive is to ensure that “children in madrasahs and pesantren receive the fulfillment of their rights as students and are protected from any form of violence they should not have to endure.”
The controversy initially ignited on social media, where photos and campaign movements swiftly spread, fiercely condemning Gus Elham’s behavior. These widely circulated images included collages depicting Gus Elham in various instances of kissing young girls. While a significant number of netizens expressed disgust and deemed the actions utterly inappropriate for a perceived religious leader, a smaller segment of the public controversially interpreted the gestures as mere expressions of affection.
Summary
The Minister of Religious Affairs, Nasaruddin Umar, unequivocally declared any conduct contradicting moral values, such as the controversial behavior of preacher Gus Elham kissing young girls, as a common adversary. He emphasized the collective responsibility in upholding ethical standards and stressed that such actions damage individuals and their affiliated institutions. However, Umar urged the public not to generalize this specific case to all religious institutions, advocating for a nuanced and casuistic approach.
Deputy Minister Romo Muhammad Syafi’i strongly condemned Gus Elham’s actions as utterly inappropriate, especially for a religious leader. The Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) is actively working to cultivate safe and comfortable environments within educational and religious institutions, including establishing a team for pesantren development to eliminate misconduct. Kemenag also has strict guidelines through a Director-General’s decree to ensure child-friendly environments in madrasahs and pesantren, protecting children’s rights and safeguarding them from violence.
