Nahdlatul Ulama Announces Female Board Members

TheIndonesia.co - World’s biggest Islamic organization Nahdlatul Ulama, NU, has announced the members of its central board (PBNU) for the 2022-2027 period, and a number of female figures have been inducted into the list.

It’s a monumental step because, since its foundation in 1926, this is the first time NU has female board members.

Newly-elected leader Yahya Cholil Staquf, or Gus Yahya, said there was never a restriction within the organization for its female members to hold leading roles, but these days, the inclusion of female members within PBNU is seen as an urgency.

“Since NU was first founded, there has never been any limitation regarding [members of] PBNU. [However] female figures are now included because there’s an urgency for it,” Staquf said at NU headquarters in Jakarta on Wednesday, January 12, as reported by Antara.

“There have been massive issues related to women, and we invite the toughest female figures like Mrs. Khofifah [Indar Parawansa] and Mrs. Alissa (Qotrunnada) [to help tackling the issues].”

Among the female members of NU’s central board for the 2022-2027 period are Nafisah Sahal Mahfudz, Mahfudloh Ali Ubaid, and the widow of former Indonesian President and NU chairman Abdurrahman Wahid, Sinta Nuriyah. All of the three figures are part of NU’s Mustasyar, or advisory board.

Nafisah Ali Masum, Badriyah Fayumi, and Ida Fatimah Zaenal are inducted into A’wan board while East Java governor Parawansa and Abdurrahman Wahid’s daughter Qotrunnada lead the Tanfidziyah, or executive board.

Parawansa said she intends to improve the quality and capacity of female members within NU as the organization continues to grow and play important role in society.

“Particularly, as we head into NU’s 100 years anniversary, the roles of NU women must be strengthened. The improvement of human resources must be fought for,” Parawansa said.