The Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) has issued a formal apology following a controversy surrounding a video greeting for “Bulan Maria” 2026. The dispute arose after Minister of Religion Nasaruddin Umar appeared in the video wearing traditional Acehnese attire.
Thobib Al Asyhar, Head of Kemenag’s Public Relations and Communication Bureau, stated that the ministry values the criticism received and will use the incident as a basis for future evaluation. He emphasized that there was no intention to undermine the sacred value of the Acehnese traditional dress.
Cultural Symbols and Religious Sensitivity
The controversy was sparked by the organization LSM Gadjah Puteh, which strongly condemned the Minister’s appearance. The group argued that using Acehnese traditional clothing and its attributes in this specific context failed to respect the dignity of the Acehnese people and the values of Islamic Sharia.
LSM Gadjah Puteh asserted that the attire is not merely cultural clothing but a symbol of honor, identity and religious value for the people of Aceh, a region known for its majority Muslim population and adherence to Sharia law.
The Context of the Recording
According to Thobib Al Asyhar, the video was recorded on May 2, 2026, during preparations for the National Education Day (Hardiknas) commemoration. The Minister had been appointed as the Inspector of Ceremony and wore the Acehnese attire to honor the cultural identity of “Serambi Mekkah” in accordance with the national theme.
The ministry explained that two separate videos were recorded during the same session: one for the Hardiknas 2026 greeting and one for the Bulan Maria greeting. The attire chosen for the national ceremony was inadvertently maintained for the religious greeting.
Resolution and Future Steps
To resolve the tension, Kemenag has taken immediate corrective action. The ministry confirmed that Minister Nasaruddin Umar has re-recorded the Bulan Maria greeting without wearing regional traditional clothing.
Moving forward, the ministry may implement more rigorous review processes for official multimedia content to ensure cultural and religious sensitivities are balanced. This could lead to a more detailed evaluation of attire and context in future interfaith communications to avoid similar disputes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Ministry of Religious Affairs apologize?
The ministry apologized because Minister Nasaruddin Umar wore traditional Acehnese attire in a video greeting for the Catholic observance of Bulan Maria, which was viewed by some as disrespectful to Islamic Sharia values.
Why was the Minister wearing Acehnese clothing during the recording?
The recording took place on May 2, 2026, during National Education Day preparations. The Minister wore the attire as the Inspector of Ceremony to honor the cultural identity of Aceh.
Who raised the objections to the video?
LSM Gadjah Puteh condemned the appearance, stating that the attire represents the religious and cultural honor of the Acehnese people.
How should public officials balance the celebration of diverse cultural identities with the sensitivities of different religious groups?
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