Yaqut Cholil Qoumas Explained

Yaqut Cholil Qoumas
Office:24th Minister of Religious Affairs
Predecessor:Fachrul Razi
President:Joko Widodo
Term Start:23 December 2020
Office1:General Chairman of GP Ansor
Successor1:Addin Jauharudin
Term Start1:27 November 2015
Term End1:2 February 2024
Office2:Member of People's Representative Council
Term Start2:27 January 2015
Term End2:23 December 2020
Predecessor2:Muhammad Hanif Dhakiri
Office3:Deputy Regent of Rembang
Term Start3:2005
Term End3:2010
Predecessor3:Nasirul Mahasin
Successor3:Abdul Hafidz
Birth Date:4 January 1975
Birth Place:Rembang, Central Java, Indonesia
Party:National Awakening Party

Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (born 4 January 1975) is an Indonesian cleric and politician who currently serves as the Minister of Religious Affairs under Joko Widodo, appointed since 23 December 2020. He previously chaired the Ansor Youth Movement and was a member of the People's Representative Council, both between 2015 and 2020.

Early life

Yaqut was born in Rembang Regency on 4 January 1975, and completed his basic education there, graduating from public schools. He studied sociology in the University of Indonesia, but did not complete his bachelor's degree. During his time at UI, he founded the Depok branch of the Indonesian Islamic Students Association (PMII), and chaired it between 1996 and 1999.[1]

Career

GP Ansor

After his time in UI, he joined the National Awakening Party, and between 2001 and 2004 he served as the chairman of the party's Rembang branch. He was elected to the municipal legislature following the 2004 elections and the following year he was elected vice-regent of Rembang, where he served until 2010.[2] He ran as a candidate in Rembang's 2010 regency election, but lost.[3]

After the electoral loss, Yaqut was elected as a chair in the Ansor Youth Movement (GP Ansor) in 2011.[2] In the 2014 legislative election, Yaqut ran as a candidate in the Central Java 10th electoral district,[4] but failed to win a seat.[5] On 27 January 2015, Yaqut was appointed as a replacement to Muhammad Hanif Dhakiri in the People's Representative Council, as Dhakiri had been appointed as Minister of Labor and Transmigration in Joko Widodo's cabinet. On 27 November 2015, Yaqut was elected as General Chairman of GP Ansor.[6] He was reelected to the legislature following the 2019 election.[7]

In 2016, Yaqut Said that the Ansor Youth Movement (GP Ansor) rejected same-sex marriage, but respects LGBT people as human beings. "As a religion, Islam has its own moral position on this matter and cannot be forced to change that moral position to comply with the will of others, just as we cannot force others to follow the moral position of Islam." said the General Chairperson of the Central Leadership of the Youth Movement Ansor, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas in Jakarta (16/2).[8] He stated, on the one hand, Islam has a moral position in responding to this group. However, on the other hand, he also cannot force LGBT people to follow the moral perspective of Islam.[9]

During the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election, Yaqut endorsed Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, referring to the Christian governor as the "Sunan" of Kalijodo.[10] Under Yaqut, GP Ansor endorsed Joko Widodo in the 2019 Indonesian presidential election.[11] In September 2019, Yaqut visited Vatican City and met with Pope Francis, where he represented GP Ansor to express the organization's support for the Document on Human Fraternity.[12]

Minister

On 22 December 2020, it was announced that Yaqut had been appointed as Minister of Religious Affairs in Joko Widodo's Onward Indonesia Cabinet, surprising political analysts which had expected either his brother Yahya Cholil Staquf or Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Agus Maftuh Abegebriel.[13] After he was sworn in on 23 December, he made a statement vowing to protect the rights of Shia and Ahmadiyya communities in Indonesia, which face persecution in Indonesia.[14] He additionally described his intent to prevent the spread of Islamic populism in Indonesia.[15] He remained as GP Ansor chairman during his tenure, until Addin Jauharudin was elected as the new chairman on 2 February 2024.[16] [17]

Notes and References

  1. News: Gus Yaqut, Menteri Agama Lulusan SMA dan Pernah Kuliah di UI . 26 December 2020 . Kumparan . 23 December 2020 . id-ID.
  2. News: Profil Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, Ketum GP Ansor yang Jadi Menteri Agama . 26 December 2020 . Kumparan . 22 December 2020 . id-ID.
  3. News: Pilkada Rembang 2010 Dimenangkan Moch Salim dan Abdul Hafidz . 26 December 2020 . Solo Pos . 22 August 2010 . id.
  4. Web site: DCT Dapil Jawa Tengah X . 26 December 2020 . id.
  5. News: Nama-Nama Anggota DPR RI 2014-2019 Yang Dilantik (1) . 26 December 2020 . Bisnis.com . 1 October 2014 . id.
  6. News: Ini profil Gus Yaqut, Ketum GP Ansor yang baru . 26 December 2020 . Merdeka . 27 November 2015 . id.
  7. News: Daftar Lengkap Nama 77 Caleg yang Lolos ke DPR RI dari Jateng Hasil Pemilu 2019 . 26 December 2020 . Tribun Jateng . 15 May 2019 . id-ID.
  8. Web site: GP Ansor: Tolak Perkawinan Sesama Jenis, Tapi Hormati LGBT sebagai Manusia. www.nu.or.id. id. 2022-09-29.
  9. News: GP Ansor Minta Hak LGBT Dihormati. 16 February 2016 . VIVA.co.id. id. 29 September 2022.
  10. News: Ketua GP Ansor: Ahok itu Sunan Kalijodo . 26 December 2020 . Merdeka . 7 April 2017 . id.
  11. News: Ansor Tegaskan Dukung Jokowi-KH Ma'ruf di Pilpres 2019 . 26 December 2020 . SINDOnews.com . 2 March 2019 . id-ID.
  12. News: GP Anshor expresses support for Pope’s world peace document . 26 December 2020 . The Jakarta Post . 27 September 2019 . en.
  13. News: Arkyasa . Mahinda . Yaqut Cholil Qoumas Appointed as Minister; PKB: That is Jokowi's Love for PKB . 26 December 2020 . Tempo . 22 December 2020 . en.
  14. News: New religious affairs minister vows to protect Shia, Ahmadiyah . 26 December 2020 . The Jakarta Post . 25 December 2020 . en.
  15. News: Misi Menag Yaqut: Cegah Populisme Islam Berkembang di RI . 28 December 2020 . CNN Indonesia . 28 December 2020 . id-ID.
  16. News: Addin Jauharuddin jadi Ketua Umum GP Ansor 2024-2029 . 19 April 2024 . Antara News . 2 February 2024 . id.
  17. News: Ketum GP Ansor Yaqut Berkali-kali Sebut '2' di Hadapan Jokowi. 19 April 2024 . detiknews . 2 February 2024.