Ahmad Dhani’s Sexist Remarks on Naturalization Sparks Outrage
- jakarta - ahmad Dhani, a member of Commission X of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), has faced scrutiny following his proposals concerning the naturalization of soccer...
- During a working meeting of Commission X DPR RI with the Ministry of Youth and Sports (Kemenpora) and the Football Association of indonesia (PSSI) at the Parliament Building,...
- Moreover, he proposed that naturalization should not be limited to active players.
ahmad Dhani’s Naturalization Proposal sparks Controversy
Table of Contents
- ahmad Dhani’s Naturalization Proposal sparks Controversy
- Ahmad Dhani’s Naturalization Proposal: A Q&A on the Controversy
- What exactly was Ahmad Dhani’s naturalization proposal?
- What was the main criticism against Dhani’s proposal?
- How did LBH APIK Jakarta respond?
- what was Konde.co’s perspective?
- What was Komnas Perempuan’s stance?
- What laws or ethical principles did Dhani’s statement perhaps violate?
- Key Reactions to Ahmad Dhani’s Proposal:
- Why is the term “naturalization” critically important in this context?
jakarta – ahmad Dhani, a member of Commission X of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), has faced scrutiny following his proposals concerning the naturalization of soccer players to strengthen the Indonesian national team. The musician suggested that if the government proceeds with naturalization, it should prioritize players from Korea or Africa.
Dhani’s Remarks on Player Selection
During a working meeting of Commission X DPR RI with the Ministry of Youth and Sports (Kemenpora) and the Football Association of indonesia (PSSI) at the Parliament Building, Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, Dhani stated, “Yang mirip-mirip kita, enggak masalah banyak, yang penting warna kulitnya masih sama seperti kita.” (“Those who are similar to us, it doesn’t matter how many, what’s important is that their skin color is still the same as ours.”)
option Naturalization Ideas
Moreover, he proposed that naturalization should not be limited to active players. He suggested naturalizing older soccer players, specifically those over 40, and then arranging marriages with Indonesian women.
“Bisa juga, misalnya, pemain-pemain bola yang sudah di atas usia 40, itu bisa juga kita naturalisasi pemain bola yang hebat, lalu kita jodohkan dengan perempuan Indonesia. Nah, anaknya itu yang kita harapkan menjadi pemain bola yang bagus juga.”
Ahmad Dhani,Member of Commission X DPR RI
(“It could also be,such as,soccer players who are over 40 years old,we could naturalize great soccer players,and then we match them with Indonesian women. Then,we hope that their children will become good soccer players as well.”)
These proposals have drawn criticism from various parties. A summary of the reactions was compiled on Friday,March 7,2025.
Criticism and Repercussions
LBH APIK Jakarta’s Response
Christine Constanta, a staff member at the Legal Aid Foundation for Women (LBH) APIK jakarta, argued that Ahmad Dhani’s proposal degrades the dignity of Indonesian women.
“Menjadikan perempuan dan tubuh perempuan seolah-olah sebagai alat untuk ’mencetak’ keturunan untuk menjadi pemain bola yang bagus.”
Christine Constanta, LBH APIK Jakarta
(“Making women and women’s bodies seem like tools to ‘produce’ offspring to become good soccer players.”)
Constanta added that Dhani’s opinion was not contextual or substantial to the main topic of the meeting, which was the naturalization of soccer players to strengthen the Indonesian national team. She felt his statements burdened Indonesian women, which had no connection to the government’s decisions in sports.
Konde.co’s Editorial Stance
Luviana Ariyanti, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of konde.co, stated that Ahmad Dhani’s remarks regarding the naturalization of older soccer players lacked empathy towards women.
“Ahmad Dhani sebagai wakil rakyat sangat nirempati, berkomentar seperti ini di tengah kondisi para perempuan yang sedang berjuang menghadapi banjir, bencana, dan lain-lain.”
Luviana Ariyanti, konde.co
(“Ahmad Dhani,as a representative of the people,is very unempathetic,commenting like this in the midst of women struggling with floods,disasters,and so on.”)
Ariyanti suggested that there was a misogynistic tendency in Dhani’s statement. From a gender and health outlook, she argued that Ahmad Dhani’s statement objectifies women, positioning them as second-class citizens and merely as reproductive tools.
Komnas Perempuan’s Condemnation
The National Commission on Anti-Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) condemned Ahmad Dhani’s statement as demeaning to women, reducing them to reproductive machines and sexual servants. Dhani also mentioned that if the naturalized soccer player was Muslim, he could marry up to four women.
Theresia sri Endras Iswarini, a Commissioner at Komnas Perempuan, stated that the Marriage Law and the Compilation of Islamic Law regulate strict provisions and prerequisites.
“Untuk mencegah perkawinan lebih dari satu orang menjadi sekadar menguntungkan satu pihak dan mengeksploitasi lainnya.”
Theresia Sri Endras Iswarini, Komnas Perempuan
(“To prevent marriage to more than one person from merely benefiting one party and exploiting the other.”)
Theresia added that the racially charged statement demeaned Indonesia by implying that foreign male soccer players possess genetically superior qualities compared to Indonesian men. The racist undertones were evident in the emphasis against naturalizing “white” players due to their different European heritage.
According to Theresia, Dhani’s statement also possibly violates women’s human rights and damages the image, honor, and authority of the DPR, notably Commission X, which oversees education.
Ahmad Dhani’s Naturalization Proposal: A Q&A on the Controversy
Ahmad Dhani, a member of Commission X of the DPR RI (Indonesian House of Representatives), has sparked important controversy with his proposals regarding the naturalization of soccer players. This Q&A breaks down the details of the proposal and the ensuing criticism.
What exactly was Ahmad Dhani’s naturalization proposal?
Ahmad Dhani proposed several ideas during a working meeting of Commission X DPR RI with the Ministry of Youth and Sports (Kemenpora) and the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) on March 5, 2025. These included:
Prioritizing soccer players from Korea or Africa for naturalization, stating, “Those who are similar to us, it doesn’t matter how many, what’s vital is that their skin color is still the same as ours.” This suggests a racial bias in his selection criteria.
Extending naturalization to older soccer players (over 40 years old).
* Arranging marriages between these naturalized older players and Indonesian women, with the hope that their children would become talented soccer players. As he stated,(“It could also be,such as,soccer players who are over 40 years old,we could also naturalize great soccer players,and then we match them with Indonesian women. Then, we hope that their children will become good soccer players as well.”)
What was the main criticism against Dhani’s proposal?
The primary criticism revolves around the objectification and degradation of Indonesian women, viewing them as tools to produce offspring with desirable athletic traits. Critics also pointed out a disregard for racial equality as well as cultural norms and the legal prerequisites for marriage in Indonesia.
How did LBH APIK Jakarta respond?
Christine Constanta, a staff member at the Legal Aid Foundation for Women (LBH) APIK Jakarta, argued that Dhani’s proposal degrades the dignity of Indonesian women, framing them and their bodies as instruments for creating a new generation of soccer players. She stated, (“Making women and women’s bodies seem like tools to ‘produce’ offspring to become good soccer players.”) She also noted the irrelevance of the proposal to the meeting’s main topic which was strengthening the national team through naturalization.
what was Konde.co’s perspective?
Luviana Ariyanti, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of konde.co, emphasized Ahmad Dhani’s lack of empathy in making such comments, particularly considering the challenges faced by women dealing with floods and disasters.Ariyanti further argued that the statement contained misogynistic tendencies, objectifying women and reducing them to reproductive tools.
What was Komnas Perempuan’s stance?
The National Commission on Anti-Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) strongly condemned Ahmad Dhani’s statement,characterizing it as demeaning to women and reducing them to reproductive machines and sexual servants. Commissioner Theresia Sri Endras Iswarini also addressed Dhani’s comment about Muslim players marrying up to four women, noting that Indonesian marriage law and Islamic law have strict regulations to protect against exploitation in polygamous marriages. Theresia added that the racially charged statement demeaned Indonesia by implying that foreign male soccer players possess genetically superior qualities compared to Indonesian men and that this also violates women’s human rights and damages the image, honor, and authority of the DPR.
What laws or ethical principles did Dhani’s statement perhaps violate?
According to Theresia Sri Endras Iswarini of Komnas Perempuan, Dhani’s statement possibly violates women’s human rights, damages the image and authority of the DPR, and could be interpreted as a racist statement. Furthermore, the suggestion of polygamy disregards the protective clauses within both the Marriage Law and the Compilation of Islamic Law in Indonesia.
Key Reactions to Ahmad Dhani’s Proposal:
| Organization | Individual | Key Criticism |
| ———————— | —————————- | ——————————————————————— |
| LBH APIK Jakarta | Christine Constanta | Degrading the dignity of Indonesian women, objectifying their bodies. |
| konde.co | Luviana Ariyanti | Lack of empathy, misogynistic tendencies, objectifying women. |
| Komnas Perempuan | Theresia Sri Endras Iswarini | Demeaning women, racist undertones, potential violation of human rights. |
Why is the term “naturalization” critically important in this context?
The core issue being discussed was the naturalization of soccer players. Naturalization, in this context, refers to granting citizenship to foreign soccer players so they can represent Indonesia on the national team. Dhani’s comments are seen as distractions, undermining the actual purpose of strenthening the country’s sport through qualified naturalized players.
This controversy highlights the importance of ethical considerations and respect for human rights in discussions about national progress. It underscores how seemingly straightforward policies, like sports team naturalization, can intersect with deeply sensitive issues like gender equality and racial prejudice.