Moses Ompusunggu, Jakarta – The Jakarta chapter of the country's largest Islamic organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) has pledged to refrain from getting involved in politics amid rising political tension ahead of the Feb. 15 simultaneous regional elections.

"[NU adviser] Ma'ruf Amin has mandated NU to wake up and move forward. We hope to seek God's blessings by uniting NU and Muhammadyah and also other Islamic organizations," the head of NU Jakarta's religious council, Mahfudz Asirun, said after a meeting at the chapter's office in Utan Kayu, West Jakarta, on Tuesday evening.

When asked if NU was still neutral in the Jakarta gubernatorial election, he said that NU would not get involved in politics as mandated by the 1926 Khittah (NU's national consensus to stay away from politics).

Ma'ruf, who is also the chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), and incumbent candidate Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama were recently in the spotlight after the latter's remarks at a trial hearing had been considered offensive to Ma'ruf.

Many Muslims felt offended because Ma'ruf, who was an adviser to former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, is a respected senior member of NU. Ahok publicly apologized to Ma'ruf.

When asked if he had forgiven Ahok, the cleric, who was also in the meeting, only said, "I only received [Ahok's] apology." (lly/bbs)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/02/08/nu-pledges-to-stay-clear-of-politics.html