He assured more than 160 Islamic clerics of this stance during a gathering at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday night (March 5), according to Deputy Chair of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) Cholil Nafis.
Addressing the press after the meeting, Nafis noted that President Prabowo had stressed that supporting the struggle for Palestinian independence is at the core of Indonesia’s decision to join the BoP.
“Regarding the BoP, the president is determined to direct it toward Palestinian independence. He is ready to withdraw if the council fails to advocate for this cause,” he emphasized.
Nafis further remarked that the head of state had pledged to take advantage of Indonesia’s involvement in the BoP to advance the interests of Palestine.
However, the MUI leader underlined that the gathering did not specifically address the council’s relevance in light of the ongoing joint attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran, saying, “The BoP is specifically for Gaza.”
In a separate statement that night, Nafis said the MUI considers the BoP ineffective in advancing the agenda of Palestinian independence. He suggested that the Indonesian government turn instead to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the United Nations.
“We consider the BoP ineffective because its initiators do not demonstrate good intentions or track records,” he told the press before joining the gathering.
President Prabowo had previously highlighted Indonesia’s option to exit the BoP during a similar meeting at the palace on February 3.
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Translator: Genta/Maria, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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