DistantNews
Support us
🇮🇩 Indonesia /Culture & Society

Indonesian Assembly Speaker to attend Iran leader's funeral, drawing criticism

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Ahmad Muzani will attend the funeral of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
  • Muzani will travel with Foreign Minister Sugiono and several religious scholars, departing on July 9, 2026, and arriving on July 10.
  • The trip, personally assigned by President Prabowo Subianto, has drawn criticism regarding the separation of state and party roles.

Ahmad Muzani, the Speaker of Indonesia's People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), is set to travel to Iran to attend the funeral procession of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Muzani confirmed that he will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Sugiono and several religious scholars on the trip, which is scheduled to depart from Jakarta on the evening of Thursday, July 9, 2026, with an expected arrival in Iran on Friday, July 10, around 6:00 AM local time.

I, the Foreign Minister, and several religious scholars. I just don't know their names yet.

— Ahmad MuzaniAhmad Muzani detailing the composition of the Indonesian delegation.

Muzani stated that the Indonesian delegation plans to complete their activities, including meetings with Iranian authorities, within a single day and will return to Jakarta immediately after. The delegation is scheduled to visit Khamenei's tomb in Mashhad and meet with Iran's Foreign Minister and Parliament Speaker upon arrival.

This is a wrong decision.

— Herdiansyah HamzahHerdiansyah Hamzah commenting on President Prabowo's decision to send Muzani.

The assignment of Muzani, a prominent figure in President Prabowo Subianto's Gerindra Party, to represent Indonesia at the funeral has sparked debate. Critics, including Herdiansyah Hamzah, a constitutional law lecturer at Mulawarman University, argue that President Prabowo's direct instruction to Muzani, despite their equal constitutional positions, demonstrates a misunderstanding of state institutional relations. Hamzah emphasized the need for clear separation between party affiliations and state duties.

I was asked to depart representing the Indonesian nation as the president's envoy.

— Ahmad MuzaniAhmad Muzani clarifying his role as an official representative.

Responding to the criticism, Muzani asserted that he is acting as an official envoy representing the Indonesian state, as requested by the president. He clarified that while he understands the distinct roles of the MPR and the executive branch, the president has the prerogative to appoint whomever he deems suitable to represent the nation on the global stage. "The head of state has the authority to decide who is considered worthy to represent the country," Muzani said.

The head of state has the authority to decide who is considered worthy to represent the country.

— Ahmad MuzaniAhmad Muzani defending the president's authority in appointing envoys.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog