The uproar has sharpened a long-standing divide between those who believe certification is needed to protect congregants and uphold ethical standards, and critics who fear it could curb religious freedom and turn influential preachers into extensions of political power.
The preacher at the centre of the controversy, 24-year-old Mohammad Elham Yahya Al Maliki, heads a religious forum in East Java’s Kediri regency. In one widely circulated video posted on November 5, he is seen embracing a young girl and sucking in her cheeks. Other clips show him kissing several children on the cheek.
His behaviour drew swift condemnation from rights advocates and religious figures alike. “Elham’s conduct tarnishes the values of da’wah [Islamic preaching] itself, which should provide an example through its attitude and behaviour to the community,” Alissa Wahid, co-chair of the executive board of Nahdlatul Ulama, the country’s largest Muslim organisation, said in a statement on November 12.
Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Arifah Fauzi warned that such acts could have long-lasting consequences.
