Surabaya – A gathering of 12 muslim clerics of the East Java chapter of the National Awakening Party (PKB) at the Miftahul Ulum boarding school in Pasuruan district on Thursday reminded themselves that in Islam it is 'haram' (forbidden) for a woman to become president.

KH Anwar Iskandar, chairman of the advisory council of PKB's East Java chapter, told Antara, at the beginning of the meeting the clerics discussed a plan to support Golkar Party and PKB's presidential aspirant Wiranto and his running mate Sholahuddin "Gus Sholah" Wahid.

"But the topic of the discussions somehow shifted to the question of women in positions of leadership after one of the clerics opened a book on Islamic law. It was noted, the prohibition on women to assume positions of leadership was no longer 'khilafiah' [a question still in dispute] but already 'ijma' [something that has been generally accepted] among muslim clerics," he said.

He said the view that women cannot become president had existed for a long time,including among clerics in the United Development Party (PPP).

The meeting was attended among others by Solahuddin Wahid himself, KH Abdullah Faqih of Langitan, Tuban district, and KH Khotib Umar of Jember district.