Faith Extracted: Nahdlatul Ulama and Raja Ampat

Nickel mining activities in Raja Ampat have created an uproar lately | Credit: Sutirta Budiman/Unsplash

In an article by Stratsea, Virdika Rizky Utama argues that Raja Ampat is at a crossroads between nature conservation and resource extraction under the leadership of Nahdlatul Ulama’s KH Ahmad Fahrur Rozi.

A particularly controversial figure in this narrative is KH Ahmad Fahrur Rozi, a senior cleric in Nahdlatul Ulama, who also holds a commissioner position at PT Gag Nikel. His public remarks downplaying the project’s environmental risks – and suggesting that local opposition may be tied to separatist interests – have sparked intense public debate.

What makes this moment especially complex is the intersection of religious authority, state power and corporate interest. When religious leaders take on official roles in extractive enterprises, it raises questions that go far beyond personal choices, as it calls into question the evolving role of religion itself in Indonesia’s democratic framework.

This is not to suggest that Nahdlatul Ulama has forsaken its principles. Historically, the organisation has stood as a vital force for social justice, pluralism and grassroots advocacy. Nevertheless, this episode demands a deep reflection: how can an organisation so rooted in moral tradition navigate its growing entanglement with power?