BPIP Cancels Hijab Ban on Women’s Paskibraka at Indonesian Independence Day Ceremony

Jakarta –

The head of the Pancasila Ideology Development Group (BPIP) Yudian Wahyudi said that members of the National Women’s Heritage Flag Raising Group 2024 (Paskibraka) were allowed to wear the hijab at the August 17 State Ceremony in the capital of the archipelago (IKN). This follows criticism of BPIP rules regarding changing the uniforms of Paskibraka members.

“Princess Paskibraka who wears the hijab can serve without removing her hijab in raising the Sang Saka Merah Putih at the 79th Indonesian Independence Day celebration in the capital the islands,” said Yudian, reported from Detik newsThursday (15/8/2024).

Yudian said that this decision was based on the guidance of the Head of the Presidential Secretariat (Kasetpres), Heru Budi Hartono, who is also the person responsible for implementing the 79th Indonesian Independence Day Ceremony.

In addition, Yudian apologized to the people of Indonesia for the controversy over the removal of the hijab for the female members of Paskibraka.

“BPIP also expresses its deepest apologies to the people of Indonesia for the news that has come forward regarding the news of the removal of the Hijab for Paskibraka Intermediate Women in 2024 that has appeared in the news,” he said.

As previously reported, the Head of the Presidential Secretariat Heru Budi Hartono previously said that a female Paskibraka who wears the hijab will still wear the hijab at the 79th Indonesian Independence Day ceremony at IKN. He confirmed that his party had asked the Paskibraka woman to continue wearing it.

“So when they entered the palace they were like that, but our order is to ask the younger princesses who are wearing the hijab to continue wearing it,” he continued.

The Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta said that he still saw female Paskibraka members wearing headscarves still wearing their headscarves during dress rehearsals at IKN.

Change of Paskibraka 2024 Uniform from BPIP

BPIP will standardize Paskibraka’s dress code and appearance in 2024 as stated in Education and Training Deputy Circular No. 1 of 2024. Paskibraka women were previously asked to be willing to remove their hijab during inauguration and the State Ceremony on 17 August.

This rule differs from implementation in previous years. When asked about the reason for changing the uniform arrangements for Paskibraka 2024 members who wear the hijab, Yudian argued that Paskibraka was about uniform from the beginning.

“Because Paskibraka was uniform from the beginning,” he said, Wednesday (14/8/2024).

However, Yudian assured that there was no element of coercion for Paskibraka Women’s National 2024 officials to remove their headscarves during the inauguration. He said the Paskibraka candidates had signed a statement with a stamp during the registration.

“During the registration, all 2024 Paskibraka candidates voluntarily registered to participate in the administrative election by submitting a statement letter signed on a IDR 10 thousand stamp,” said Yudian.

In addition, Yudian said, Paskibraka women have the freedom to wear the hijab outside of Paskibraka’s inauguration and the raising of the Red and White at the State Ceremony on August 17.

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